THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


'./ 


fe 


THE  SILK  QUESTION  SETTLED 


THE 


TESTIMONY  OF  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  WITNESSES. 


REPORT 


OF    THE 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  CONVENTION 


OP 


Silk  Growers  and  Silk  Manufacturers, 


HELD   IN  NEW  YORK,   OCT.  13TH  AND  14™,  1843. 


PUBLISHED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 


SECOND    EDITION,    WITH    ADDITIONS, 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED      BY     T.    R.    MARVIN, 

No.  24  CONGRESS  STREET. 

1844. 


DEDICATED 


TO    THE 


FARMERS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  friends  of  the  Silk  Cause  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  the 
Massachusetts  Agricultural  Society,  and  to  a  few  public-spirited  individuals 
in  Boston  and  vicinity,  for  funds  to  stereotype  this  Report,  that  it  may  be 
sold  at  low  prices,  for  a  general  and  wide  distribution  over  the  country. 
The  Report  has,  therefore,  been  corrected,  some  parts  abridged,  new  matter 
added,  as  an  Appendix,  and  an  Index  of  Subjects  prepared.  In  this  new 
and  greatly-improved  form,  the  publisher  presents  this  edition  to  the  public, 
and  will  fill  orders,  with  cash  accompanying,  as  follows :  — 

60  copies  for $  5.00 

130       "       " 10.00 

1000       "       " 70.00 

Any  number  less  than  60  copies  at  10  cents  each,  if  the  order  comes  free 
of  expense. 


REPORT. 


REPOSITORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
INSTITUTE. 

NEW  YORK,  Oc«.  12,  1843. 
A  LARGE  number  of  gentlemen,  inter- 
ested in  the  Culture  and  Manufacture  of 
Silk  in  this  country,  assembled  this  day, 
at  half  past  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  by  virtue  of 
the  following  Circular  Letter,  issued  by 
the  Trustees  of  the  American  Institute:  — 

SILK  CIRCULAR. 

AMERICAN  INSTITUTE,  ) 
NEW  YORK,  August  23,  1843.  $ 
SIR:  The  American  Institute  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  a  State  institution  for 
promoting  Agriculture  and  the  Arts  in  the 
United  States,  is  desirous,  for  beneficial 
public  purposes,  of  obtaining  information 
respecting  the  progress  and  condition  of 
the  culture  and  manufacture  of  Silk,  and 
the  growth,  quality,  &c.,  of  the  Mulberry 
in  the  United  States.  For  this  purpose 
we  have  invited  a  General  Convention  of 
Silk-  Growers  and  Manufacturers,  from  all 
parts  of  tjie  United  States,  to  meet  in  New 
York  on  the  12th  and  13th  of  October 
next,  during  the  sixteenth  Annual  Fair 
of  the  Institute.  A  conspicuous  place 
will  be  provided  for  a  full  display  of 
American  silks,  and  extraordinary  efforts 
made  to  procure  such  a  display.  The 
statistical  returns  of  increasing  quantities 
the  last  few  years,  together  with  very  fa- 
vorable results  in  feeding,  the  present  sea- 
son, bring  us  inevitably  to  the  conclusion 
that  this  precious  commodity  is  destined 
soon  to  rank  with  cotton  and  wool,  in  its 
importance  as  an  American  staple.  For 
the  purpose  of  accurately  ascertaining 
the  present  condition  and  the  future  pros- 
pects of  this  branch  of  domestic  industry, 
every  silk-culturist  and  manufacturer  in 
the  Union  is  invited  to  attend,  and  bring 
their  best  specimens,  with  all  the  correct 
data  at.  their  command;  from  which  a 
Report  will  be  compiled,  and  distributed 


through  the  country,  that  will,  we  trust, 
forever  settle  the  question  in  favor  of  the 
cultivation  of  silk  in  the  United  States. 
We  call  upon  all  silk-culturists  and  man- 
ufacturers to  aid  in  this  laudable  object. 

In  the  growth  of  silk  we  have  an  arti- 
cle providentially  adapted  to  all  our  varied 
soils  and  latitudes,  well  calculated  to 
counteract  sectional  selfishness,  and  to 
produce  a  harmonious  moral  influence ; 
and  the  vent  for  it  in  the  markets  of  the 
world  will  exceed  our  ability  to  produce 
for  centuries  to  come.  Let  us,  if  the  silk 
culture  and  manufacture  are  feasible,  and 
can  be  made  to  remunerate,  advance  at 
once  to  the  point  required.  And  how 
can  this  be  better  ascertained  than  by  a 
collection  of  facts,  by  means  of  the  com- 
ing exhibition  and  convention  ? 

We  are  happy  to  know  that  the  New 
England  Silk  Convention  is  appointed  to 
meet  at  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  Oc- 
tober 4th  ;  and  we  would  respectfully  sug- 
gest to  the  friends  of  this  cause  in  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  arid  other  States, 
that  they  hold  county  and  other  local  con- 
ventions, at  the  same  time,  or  previously ; 
and  collect  all  the  facts  possible,  and  for- 
ward them,  to  be  imbodied  in  the  General 
Report. 

We  earnestly  urge,  that  every  Silk- 
Grower  and  Manufacturer  furnish  a  writ- 
ten statement,  as  desired.  If  you  cannot 
attend  the  Convention,  send  by  mail.  Do 
not  decline  because  your  operations  are 
small,  or  because  you  may  not  be  accus- 
tomed to  writing ;  small  experiments,  as 
wdl  as  large  ones,  I'ightly  conducted,  settle 
general  principles ;  and  any  errors  in  writ- 
ing, which  we  may  discover,  the  Con- 
vention will  correct ;  only  give  the  facts. 

To  aid  our  correspondents,  we  present 
two  series  of  questions  to  be  answered. 
If  you  are  a  Silk-Grower,  we  ask  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

1.  How  long  have  you  fed  worms,  and 
what  have  been  the  general  results  each 
year  ? 


REPORT. 


.  What  kind  of  a  building  do  you  use, 
and  how  is  the  temperature  regulated,  if  reg- 
ulated at  all  ? 

3.  Have  you  ever  fed  in  an  open  shed  or 
tent  ?     If  so,  state  the  results. 

4.  What  variety  of  silk-worm  do  you  pre- 
fer? 

5.  What  kind  of  trees  do  you  use,  and  how 
do  you  manage  them  ? 

6.  Have  you  tested,  and  found  any  differ- 
ence between,  early  and  late  feeding  ? 

7.  Can  you  state  the  cause  or  causes  of 
bad  success  in  feeding,  in  any  case  or  cases, 
among  your  acquaintances  engaged  in   the 
business  ? 

8.  Have  you  tested  the  use  of  the  mul- 
berry leaf,  in  its  green  or  dry  state,  for  pa- 
per ?     If  not,  will  you  do  it  this  season,  and 
communicate  to  us  the  results  ? 

9.  Have  you  tried  any  process,  by  water- 
or  dew-rotting,  to  separate  the  bark  of  the 
young  mulberry-shoots  from  the  woody  fibres, 
so  as  to  convert  it  into  paper  or  silk  fabrics  ? 
If  not,  will  you  do  it  the  present  season,  and 
communicate  as  above  ? 

10.  Any  other  information,  on  any  part  of 
the  silk-culture,  or  any  suggestions  on  the 
general  subject,  will  be  thankfully  received. 

If  you  are  a  Manufacturer,  please  an- 
swer as  follows :  — 

1.  How  long  have  you  been  engaged  in 
manufacturing  silk  ? 

2.  What  varieties  of  silk  goods   do   you 
manufacture  ? 

3.  What  amount  of  raw  silk  do  you  work 
up  annually  ? 

4.  What  amount  of  capital  have  you  in- 
vested in  the  business  ? 

5.  What  number  of  hands  —  male,  female, 
and  children  —  do  you  employ  ? 

6.  As  a  manufacturer,  what  is  your  opin- 
ion in  regard  to  the  quality  of  American  raw 
silk,  properly  reeled,  compared  with  the  for- 
eign article  ? 

7.  As  a  manufacturer,  what  is  your  opin- 
ion as  to  the  comparative  quality  of  the  silk 
made  from  the  different  kinds  of  trees  in 
common    use  —  the   Multicaulis,    Cantons, 
Asiatics,  Broosas,   Alpines,  Italian  Whites, 
and  the  native  American  Mulberry  ? 

8.  In  the  present  tariff  on  silks,  are  any 
modifications  needed  in  order  to  make  it  an- 
swer the  designs  contemplated  in  establish- 
ing it  ? 

9.  What  are  your  views  in  regard  to  the 
whole  silk  business  as  a  permanent  brancli 
of  American   industry?      Is  the  enterprise 
feasible  ? 

In  conclusion,  we  earnestly  press  this 
whole  subject  upon  your  attention.  Come 
to  the  Convention.  At  least,  send  us  spe- 
cimens of  your  labors,  and  the  FACTS 
which  we  ask.  To  every  person  who  will 
give  a  written  statement,  as  desired,  and 
to  every  editor  who  will  publish  this  Cir- 
cular, sending  us  a  paper  containing  it, 


we  will  send  a  copy  of  the  contemplated 
Report. 

By  order, 

JAMES  TALLMADGE,  President. 

ADONIRAM  CHANDLER,} 

WILLIAM  INGLIS,  >  Vice-Presid'ts. 

SHEPHERD  KNAP,          } 

T.  B.  WAKEMAN,  Corresponding  Sec'y. 

G.  J.  LEEDS,  Recording  Sec'y. 

E.  T.  BACKHOUSE,  Treasurer. 

In  pursuance  of  this  call,  a  highly  re- 
spectable Convention  assembled.  Dr. 
DANIEL  STEBBINS,  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and  JAMES 
HARRISON,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven,  Conn., 
appointed  Secretary,  and  the  following 
Roll  of  Delegates  made  out :  — 

Charles  Henry  Hall,  Harlem,  Jf.  Y. 

S.  Church,  Bethlcm,  Conn. 

Charles  B.  Crafts,  Woodbury,  Conn. 

Horace  Pitkin,  Manchester,  P.  0.,  Conn. 

Return  J.  Meigs,  Augusta,  Geo. 

G.  W.  Murray,  Puterson,  N.  J. 

Timothy  Smith,  Jlmherst,  Mass. 

Oliver  Fierce,  Elizabcthtown,  N.  J. 

Oliver  Mitchell,  South  Britain,  Conn. 

Robert  Wentworth,  Centre  Buxton,  Maine. 

James  A.  Stetson,  Northampton,  Muss. 

Joseph  Conant,  Northampton,  Mass. 

Ephrairn  Montague,  Bclchertown,  Mass. 

William  Robert  Prince,  Flushing,  L.  I. 

Jacob  Pratt,  Sherburne,  Mass. 

J.  Danforth,  Ncio  York. 

Holly  Bell,  Darien,  Conn. 

Aaron  Dean,  Stamford,  Conn. 

James  C.  Church,  Poughkeepsic,  N.  Y. 

Benjamin  W.  North,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Fr.  Ehrenfels,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Dr.  Daniel  Stebbins,  Northampton,  Mass. 

James  Harrison,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

I.  R.  Barbour,  Oxford,  Mass. 

Gen.  James  Tallmadge,  New  York. 

Henry  Meigs,  New  York. 

Gideon  B.  Smith,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Thaddeus  B.  Wakeman,  New  York. 

J.  R.  Walter,  New  York. 

Edward  Clark,  New  York. 

John  O.  Choules,  New  York. 

F.  Trowbridge,  Flushing,  L.  L 
C.  Colt,  Jr.  Detlham,  Muss. 
Samuel  M.  McKay,  Neto  York. 
A.  P.  Waite,  Troy,  New  York. 
E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  New  York. 

Nathan  Rixford,  Mansfield  Centre,  Conn. 
J.  Dimock,  "  "  " 

Hugh  Maxwell,  Rockland  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Cornelio  D.  Scoring,  Neic  York. 
Alfred  S.  Prince,  Flushing,  L.  I. 
Dr.  Smith  Cutter,  Shrewsbury,  N.  J. 
L  Provost,  North  Hempstead,  L.  I. 
S.  F.  Norton,  Nerc  York. 
Thomas  Dale,  Mansfield,  Conn, 
John  Denmead,  New  York. 

G.  M.  Haywood,  "        " 
Edward  F.  Woodward,  New  York. 

P.  D.  Mandelaer,  Schenectady  Co.,  N.  Y. 


REPORT. 


N.  J.  Church,  Minisink,  Orange  Co.,  JY*.  F. 

George  Bacon,  Neio  York. 

Cornelius  Bergen.  AV?o  Utrecht,  L.  I. 

George  Sullivan,  Neiv  York. 

R.  Lockwood,          "         « 

Samuel  Stephens,  "         " 

G.  C.  De  Kay,         "         " 

John  W.  Gill,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Jefferson  Co.,  0. 

Ab.  Clark,  New  York. 

Messrs.  Meigs,  Smith,  and  Barbour  were 
appointed  as  a  nominating  committee,  to 
present  a  list  of  officers  for  the  permanent 
organization  of  the  Convention. 

On  motion  of  a  member,  convenient 
seats  were  provided  at  the  table  for  re- 
porters of  the  public  press.  And  the  re- 
porters of  the  Tribune,  Express,  Herald, 
and  Commercial  Advertiser,  availed  them- 
selves of  the  courtesy. 

The  nominating  committee  reported  as 
follows :  — 

For  President  —  Gen.  JAMES  TALL- 
MADGE,  of  New  York. 

For  Vice-Presidents  —  John  W.  Gill, 
Esq.,  of  Ohio  ;  Dr.  D.  Stebbins,  Massa- 
chusetts;  H.  Pitkin,  Esq.,  Connecticut; 
G.  W.  Murray,  Esq.,  New  Jersey. 

For  Secretaries — James  Harrison,  Esq., 
of  Connecticut ;  Jacob  C.  Parsons,  New 
York. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appoint- 
ed the  Business  Committee  of  the  Con- 
vention :  Messrs.  Barbour,  of  Massachu- 
setts, Smith,  of  Maryland,  Gill,  of  Ohio, 
Conant,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Danfbrth, 
of  New  York. 

GENERAL  TALLMADGE  (upon  the  elec- 
tion of  the  above  officers)  took  the  chair, 
and  made  some  very  interesting  remarks. 

This,  said  he,  is  the  first  National  Silk  Con- 
vention ever  called  in  this  country,  and  its 
object  was  to  take  into  consideration  the  ex- 
pediency, as  well  as  the  possibility,  of  mak- 
ing silk  one  of  the  staples  of  the  country ;  to 
ascertain  whether  its  culture  be  or  be  not 
congenial  to  the  soil,  and  then  to  advise  those 
engaged  in  the  matter  to  go  on  with  it;  if 
not,  to  cease  their  labors.  And,  in  these 
ways,  the  Convention,  in  his  opinion,  would 
be  able  to  do  a  great  deal  of  good. 

Gen.  T.  then  went  on  to  express  the  opin- 
ion that,  not  only  in  one  part,  but  in  all  parts 
of  the  United  States,  the  climate  and  the  soil 
of  the  country  were  most  admirably  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  the  silk-worm.  And  he  de- 
scribed the  climates  of  England  and  the  Uni- 
ted States,  in  contrast,  as  adapted  to  this  cul- 
ture, and  showed  to  what  different  uses  the 
mulberry  was  put  in  the  two  countries.  This 
fruit,  in  England,  grew  to  a  large  size,  as 
large  as  a  shell-bark,  and  was  a  rich,  luscious 
fruit  for  the  table.  It  never  grew  to  such 
luxuriance  here ;  the  climate  was  less  favor- 
able to  the  raising  of  the  fruit ;  but,  from  the 


same  causes,  most  favorable  to  the  culture 
of  the  silk- worm. 

The  speaker  gave  a  very  interesting  detail 
of  the  mode  of  raising  the  worms, — the  way 
in  which  the  process  of  hatching  goes  on. 
He  explained  the  mode,  adopted  by  some,  of 
hatching  on  paper,  by  the  aid  of  the  warmth 
of  manure,  or  by  contact  with  the  body,  &c. 
He  alluded  to  the  statements,  in  the  books, 
as  to  the  way  in  which  the  process  of  hatch- 
ing goes  on  all  over  the  world.  It  would 
seem  that  every  where,  excepting  in  this 
country,  artificial  means  are  uniformly  re- 
sorted to.  Jn  this  country  we  need  no  such 
means.  All  that  is  needed  is  the  enterprise 
and  industry  of  the  people  of  the  country  to 
bring  silk  into  the  list  of  American  staples. 
The  end  and  aim  of  this  Convention,  the 
speaker  insisted,  are  of  a  kind  which  ought 
to  recommend  it  to  the  favor  of  all  American 
citizens.  Instead  of  sending  money  out  of 
the  country,  and  for  the  purchase  of  what  we 
can  so  easily  make  ourselves,  and  then  sit- 
ting down,  wondering  where  our  circulating 
medium  has  gone,  the  general  would  advise 
his  countrymen  to  enter  into  this  enterprise 
with  vigor,  to  go  to  work  like  patriots,  and 
to  improve  the  advantages  which  God  and 
nature  had  put  into  their  hands  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a  new  staple,  and  one  that,  it  was 
fully  demonstrable,  must  eventually  turn  out 
a  rich  source  of  national  wealth. 

The  Business  Committee  then  present- 
ed a  great  number  of  letters  from  persons 
engaged  in  the  silk  business,  from  a  large 
majority  of  the  States  in  the  Union,  con- 
taining instructive  and  valuable  facts, 
based  on  the  experience  and  observation 
of  the  writers  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
work. 

A  communication  from  the  New  Eng- 
land Convention,  recently  held  at  North- 
ampton, in  Massachusetts,  was  also  read 
by  the  first  Vice- President,  and  was  or- 
dered to  go  upon  the  files,  and  to  be  pub- 
lished with  the  doings  of  this  body,  and 
is  as  follows :  — 

The  second  Annual  Meeting  of  the  New 
England  Silk  Convention,  convened  at 
Northampton,  October  4,  1843. 

The  Convention  was  duly  organized  by 
choosing  the  officers  designated  by  a  nomi- 
nating committee.  Hon.  EDWARD  DICKIN- 
SON, of  Amherst,  Mass.,  was  elected  Presi- 
dent;  Dr.  DANIEL  STEBBINS,  of  North- 
ampton, and  Rev.  JOSEPH  FIELD,  of  Charle- 
mont,  Vice-Presidents  ;  Henry  Kirkland,  W. 
A.  Hawley,  and  A.  W.  Thayer,  of  North- 
ampton, Secretaries;  Dr.  Daniel  Stebbins, 
Treasurer. 

The  letters  which  had  been  received  from 
persons  residing  in  widely-distant  parts  of 
New  England,  and  beyond  the  limits  of  New 
England,  all  express  one  opinion  in  regard 
to  the  importance  and  feasibility  of  the  silk 
culture.  These  letters  were  numerous  and 


REPORT. 


highly  interesting  to  silk-growers,  express- 
ing full  confidence  in  the  system  of  early  and 
open  feeding,  and  the  most  firm  conviction 
that  the  silk  cause  will  be  crowned  with 
complete  success. 

Several  gentlemen  addressed  the  meeting, 
detailing  their  own  experience  since  our  last 
meeting,  and  fully  sustained  the  leading  op- 
erations of  the  year — open  and  early  feeding. 

Dr.  Daniel  Stebbins,  Samuel  Wells,  and 
A.  W.  Thayer,  having  been  appointed  to 
present  resolutions  for  the  consideration  of 
the  Convention,  made  the  following  report, 
which  was  read,  discussed,  and  unanimously 
adopted  :  — 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  general  and  widely- 
extended  distribution  of  the  last  year's  Re- 
port has  awakened  an  interest  in  favor  of 
the  silk  cause  exceeding  our  most  sanguine 
expectations. 

2.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  highly 
appreciate   the   favorable   notice  which    the 
American    Institute   has   taken  of  the   silk 
cause,  and  that  we  regard  the  efforts  they  are 
now  using  as  signally  auspicious  of  happy 
results. 

3.  Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  the  experi- 
ments already  made,  we  feel  assured  that  our 
soil  and  climate  will  produce  silk  in  abun- 
dance, of  the  very  best  quality,  and  equal  to 
any   imported  ;  and  that  the   United   States 
have  all  the  facilities  for  becoming  a  great 
silk-growing  country. 

4. " Resolved,  That  the  people  of  this  coun- 
try can  raise  and  manufacture  all  their  own 
silks  as  easily  as  their  own  cottons  and  wool- 
lens, and  as  rapidly  as  mulberry-trees  can  be 
multiplied. 

5.  Resolved,  That,  with  a  view  to  encour- 
age the  culture  of  silk  more  extensively,  a 
reasonable    State    bounty   on   cocoons   and 
reeled  silk  is  desirable.     We  therefore  rec- 
ommend that  measures  be  adopted  to  procure 
the  passage  of  laws  for  that  purpose,  in  those 
States  where  such  laws  do  not  already  exist. 

6.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  appoint 
delegates  to  attend  the  National  Silk  Con- 
vention, to  be  holden  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  the   12th   and    13th  days  of  this 
month,  and  present  to  the  trustees  of  the 
American  Institute  the  returns  which  have 
been  received  by  this  body,  from  silk-grow- 
ers, to  be  at  their  disposal ;  and  also  to  repre- 
sent our  views  and  feelings  on  the  silk  sub- 
ject. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  silk-growing  enter- 
prise is  deserving   the  patronage   of  every 
State  in  the  Union,  and  that  the  cause  would 
be  essentially  promoted  by  the  formation  of 
State  and  County  Silk  Associations  through- 
out the  Union. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  next  annual  meeting 
of  this  Convention  be  held  at  Northampton, 
Mass.,  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  October, 
1844. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  del- 
egates to  the  National  Silk  Convention,  pur- 
suant to  the  sixth  resolution  :  — 

I.  R.  Barbour,  Oxford,  Mass. 

Daniel  Stebbins,  Northampton.,  Mass. 


Joseph  Conant,  Northampton,  Mass. 
J.  A.  Stetson,  "  " 

Ephraim  Montague,  Bclckertown,  Mass. 
Timothy  Smith,  Amherst,  Mass. 
Leonard  Martin,  Gill,  Mass. 

D.  W.  Dexter,  Claremont,  N.  H. 

E.  M.  Hollister,  Brattl.boro' ,  Vt. 
Horace  Pitkin,  Manchester,  Ct. 
James  Harrison,  New  Haven,  Ct. 

Adjourned,  sine  die. 

JOSKPH  FIELD,  Vice-President. 
Harvey  Kirkland,  } 
A.  Thayer,  >  Secretaries. 

W.  A.  Hawley,      ^ 

The  Business  Committee  proposed  to 
introduce  a  series  of  resolutions  in  the 
afternoon  session. 

Gen.  Tallmadge,  the  President,  in  the 
name  of  the  Institute,  invited  the  Conven- 
tion to  visit  the  Fair,  and  inspect  the  spe- 
cimens of  silk,  and  silk  goods,  which 
were  there  ;  with  all  the  other  numerous 
and  varied  exhibitions  of  American  skill 
and  genius. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  until 
four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  went  in  a  body  to 
Nihlo's,  in  pursuance  of  the  invitation  of 
the  American  Institute. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Gen.  Tallmadge,  the  President,  called 
the  Convention  to  order  at  the  hour  ap- 
pointed, (four  o'clock.) 

Judge  Meigs.  of  New  York,  presented 
a  paper  on  the  silk  business  in  France, 
which  was  ordered  to  be  printed  with  the 
minutes ;  and  is  as  follows :  — 

"  I  have  noticed  the  late  movements  in 
France  on  the  silk  culture. 

In  1836  La  Societe  Siricnle  (Silk  Culture 
Society)  was  founded.  At  the  General  As- 
sembly in  December,  1840,  reports  were 
made  on  the  progress  of  silk  industry. 

It  appeared  that  ladies  had  assumed  im- 
portant stations  in  the  new  enterprise. 

Mademoiselle  Pcltzcr  was  at  the  head  of 
one  of  the  most  important  societies,  that  of 
Lavaur.  That  Madame  Del  a  forest  had  made 
one  of  the  most  valuable  experiments.  She 
had  produced  30  Ibs.  of  silk  for  300  Ibs.  of 
cocoons.  (We  have,  in  this  country,  done 
more  than  that.  H.  M.)  Linch  de  Latour 
had  founded  a  cocoonery  for  200  ounces  of 
eggs. 

Eugene  Robert  was  decorated  with  the 
Legion  of  Honor  for  his  silk  works ! 

France  has  discovered  that  the  worms 
must  be  fed  on  leaves  from  the  first  bud  to 
the  old  leaf.  Young  worms  do  not  prosper  on 
old  leaves,  nor  vice,  versa.  France  has  dis- 
covered that  ventilation  is  a  sine  qud  non ; 
that  Multicaulis  is  best.  A  general  ardor 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  silk  business  is  felt  in 
France. 

Medals  are  given  to  cultivators,  &c. 

EmUe  Beauvais  raised  72  Ibs.  of  cocoons 
from  1000  Ibs  of  leaves. 


REPORT. 


The  Marquis  Amdot  distinguishes  himself 
for  zeal  and  taste  in  silk  works. 

H.  ME1GS, 

Member  of  the  American  Institute 
Oct.  12th,  1843." 

Mr.  Barbour,  of  the  Business  Commit- 
tee, reported  from  that  committee  a  se- 
ries of  resolutions. 

In  the  discussions  which  followed,  many 
members  made  remarks  upon  the  feasi- 
bility of  the  silk  business.  It  was  not,  as 
had  been  alleged,  "all  moonshine."  The 
President  made  a  few  remarks  in  favor 
>  of  an  amendment  offered  by  himself,  to 
the  effect  that  the  disrepute  and  distrust 
into  which  the  business  fell,  some  three 
or  four  years  ago,  was  the  work  of  brokers 
and  speculators,  who  had  engaged  in  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  mulberry-trees,  cut- 
tings, &c.,  with  no  intention  of  growing 
or  manufacturing. 

A  debate  also  arose  in  reference  to  the 
fact  that,  under  one  clause  of  the  Tariff 
Act,  frauds  had  been  committed.  The 
committee  were  instructed  to  report  on 
this  subject  to-morrow.  Convention  ad- 
journed until  to-morrow,  at  10,  A.  M. 

EVENING. 

The  Saloon  in  the  Garden,  in  the  even- 
ing, was  thronged  with  visitors ;  and,  at 
half-past  seven,  agreeably  to  previous  ar- 
rangement, General  Tallmadge  intro- 
duced the  speaker  of  the  evening,  Mr. 
BARBOUR,  of  Massachusetts,  a  practical 
silk-grower. 

The  assemblage  were  deeply  interested 
in  the  remarks  made  by  the  speaker,  and 
frequently  interrupted  him  with  warm 
shouts  of  applause. 

His  speech,  as  given  bj  the  city  report- 
ers, was  substantially  as  follows:  — 

Mr.  Barbour  said  he  would  address  him- 
self to  the  task  assigned  him,  without  any 
apology  or  introduction. 

The  plain  Saxon  words  can  and  can't  had 
applicability  to  this  subject.  The  first  ques- 
tion, then,  is,  Can  we  raise  silk  in  this  coun- 
try? He  would  say  that  there  were  the  most 
abundant  proofs  that  we  can  do  so.  He  ad- 
verted to  the  fact  that,  in  the  early  history 
of  the  country,  this  had  been  demonstrated. 
The  culture  of  silk  was  well  known  in  the 
colonies  before  the  Revolution.  Georgia, 
Virginia,  and  Pennsylvania  had  fully  demon- 
strated its  feasibility.  New  England,  also, 
had  even  then  done  the  same ;  and  far-seeino- 
men  of  that  time,  such  as  Dr.  Franklin,  Dr. 
Stiles,  President  of  Yale  College,  and  others 
interested  patriotically  in  the  subject,  had 
done  much  towards  the  promotion  of  the 
business. 

.From  1740  to  1790,  hundreds  of  pounds  of 
excellent  silk   were    grown    in  the   South-  ( 
ern,  Middle,  and  New  England  States ;  and 
in  the  old  town  of  Mansfield,  Conn.,  the  busi- 1 


ness  became  permanently  established,  and 
has  continued  to  the  present  day. 

But  the  question  very  naturally  and  very 
properly  here  comes  up,  How  did  it  happen 
that  it  was  generally  abandoned  ?  My  an- 
swer is,  that  the  population  of  the  country 
was  sparse  ;  the  Revolution  corning  on,  of 
course,  broke  up  the  business  for  the  time ; 
and  the  people  of  the  South  became  supreme- 
ly absorbed  in  the  cotton  culture.  But  the 
one,  the  great,  the  all-controlling  obstacle,  was 
the  want  of  a  home  cask  market  for  cocoons 
and  raw  silk.  Such  a  market  was  not  crea- 
ted, because  the  popular  sentiment  of  the 
country  was  opposed  to  home  manufactures 
of  every  kind.  The  received  doctrine  of  the 
country,  even  down  to  1816,  was,  that  we 
were  to  be  an  agricultural  and  a  commercial, 
but  not  a  manufacturing  people. 

But  the  Tariff  of  1816  settled  the  policy  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  domestic  manufac- 
tures. A  new  order  of  things  came  up.  The 
cotton  business  soon  became  established. 
Then  the  woollen  business,  under  subse- 
quent modifications  of  the  tariff,  became  es- 
tablished. And  thus  a  manufacturing  spirit, 
as  the  spirit  of  the  country,  was  generated. 
We  no  longer  heard  the  old  story,  that  agri- 
culture and  trade  were  the  only  pursuits  be- 
fitting our  circumstances  and  our  genius,  as 
a  people. 

In  this  way,  the  whole  silk  question,  grow- 
ing and  manufacturing,  was  again  called  up, 
as  a  permanent  branch  of  American  industry. 
As  early  as  1826,  Congress  began  to  call 
public  attention  to  the  subject;  and  between 
that  date  .and  183H,  several  documents  of 
great  value  were  issued  by  that  body.  Sev- 
eral of  the  States  issued  similar  documents, 
and  offered,  also,  liberal  bounties  upon  co- 
coons and  raw  silk. 

But  the  cause  has  had  peculiar  difficulties 
to  surmount ;  some  growing  out  of  the  na- 
ture of  the  business  itself,  as  a  new  business 

—  some  out  of  the  prejudices  of  the  ignorant 

—  some  out  of  the  indiscretions  and  mistakes 
of  its  friends  —  still  more  out  of  the  opera- 
tions of  unprincipled  speculators  in  mulberry- 
trees. 

Yet  the  progress  of  the  business  has  been 
onward,  especially  for  the  past  two  or  three 
years.  To  prove  this,  he  would  send  the 
auditory  to  that  part  of  the  gardens  in  which 
raw  silks  and  silk  manufactures  of  our 
country  were  exhibited.  He  would  send 
;hem  also  to  the  returns  of  our  State  treas- 
urers, showing  the  increasing  bounties  paid 
out  from  year  to  year  —  each  year  just  about 
doubling  on  the  preceding  year.  With  still 
ligher  measures  of  satisfaction,  he  would  rer 
?er  them  to  the  documents  lying  on  the  ta- 
)les  of  the  Convention  now  in  session  —  doc- 
uments detailing  the  experiments  of  one  to 
,wo  hundred  men  from  about  all  the  States 
n  this  Union  ;  and  showing  that,  with  occa- 
sional disasters,  hundreds  of  bushels  of  ex- 
ellent  cocoons  have  been  grown  the  present 
season  upon  our  own  soils,  and  under  our 
own  suns  and  showers. 

Can  we,  then,  make  silk  ?    Yes,  by  the 


REPORT. 


testimony  of  the  past,  by  the  testimony  of 
the  present,  the  fact  is  established  beyond 
cavil  or  dispute,  that  we  can  raise  silk,  and 
manufacture  it,  too.  (Cheers.) 

My  second  remark,  said  Mr.  B.,  is  that  our 
silk,  in  the  state  in  which  the  worm  leaves  it, 
or  when  properly  reeled,  is  a  decidedly  supe- 
rior article. 

Dr.  Franklin  first  proclaimed  the  superior 
quality  of  silk  of  American  growth,  and  sub- 
sequent experimenjs  have  fully  corroborated 
the  assertions  of  that  noble  man.  This  fact 
is  proved  from  the  high  value  which  well- 
reeled  American  silk  enjoys  in  the  market 
over  foreign  silk.  You  have  it,  also,  in  the 
testimony  of  American  and  foreign  silk  man- 
ufacturers, as  imbodied  in  the  First  Report  of 
the  New  England  Silk  Convention.  You  will 
see  the  same  fact  abundantly  attested  in  the 
returns  to  this  Convention,  now  lying  in 
that  pile  upon  our  table,  and  which  will  soon 
be  given  to  the  public  in  our  Report. 

But  what  does  this  fact  prove  ?  Why, 
surely,  it  proves  the  superiority  of  the  climate 
and  soil  of  our  country  for  the  silk  culture. 

In  open  field  culture,  you  cannot  get  a 
product  of  first-rate  quality,  only  where  soil 
and  climate  are  congenial.  Try  it  in  regard 
to  all  our  grains,  wheat,  corn,  rice,  oats,  &c., 
in  regard  to  vegetables,  flowers,  fruits,  and 
grasses  ;  in  fine,  in  regard  to  every  thing  that 
grows  on  the  face  of  the  earth ;  and  you  will 
find  it  an  immutable  law  of  the  physical 
world,  that  soil  and  climate  determine  the 
quality  of  the  product.  Where  these  are  un- 
propitious,  no  measure  of  science  or  skill  can 
supply  the  want. 

In  this  connection,  I  remark,  also,  that  the 
climate  of  our  country  is  essentially  the  same 
as  that  of  China,  in  the  same  parallels  of 
latitude  —  our  geographical  position  is  simi- 
lar to  that  great  country  —  the  boundaries 
of  our  sea  and  land  are  like  theirs —  and  our 
prevailing  winds  in  the  summer  are,  like 
theirs,  land  winds.  The  dry,  warm  atmos- 
phere of  that  country  and  this  render  them 
both  eminently  fitted  for  this  business.  In 
Europe,  artificial  means  can  only  give  to  the 
eggs  the  forwardness  which  the  natural  at- 
mosphere here  gives.  Throughout  Europe 
the  question  is,  How  shall  the  eggs  be 
hatched  ?  Here  it  is,  How  shall  they  be  kept 
back  until  we  are  ready  for  them  ?  (Cheers.) 
I  refer  to  these  general  facts  to  show  you 
on  what  the  guaranty  of  the  silk-grower  is 
based,  in  this  country. 

My  third  general  remark,  said  Mr.  B.,  is 
that,  under  a  wise  arrangement  of  impost 
duties,  we  can  make  our  own  silk  goods 
cheaper  than  we  can  import  them. 

I  draw  this  inference  from  the  history  of 
the  past.  It  has  been  found  to  be  true  in  re- 
gard to  every  thing  else  —  cottons,  woollens, 
iron,  and  every  thing  to  which  American  in- 
genuity has  been  directed ;  and,  pray  tell  me, 
why  not  in  regard  to  silk  ? 

But  I  hear,  forever,  the  old  story,  the  sto- 
ry that  we  cannot  compete  with  the  cheap 
labor  of  India,  and  China,  and  Europe,  in  the 
silk  business.  There,  it  is  said,  laborers  can 


be  had  for  a  few  cents  a  day ;  and  it  is  of  no 
use  to  try  to  compete  with  them.  In  reply, 
I  would  say,  1st,  that  labor  is  ahcays  to  be 
estimated,  not  by  what  it  costs,  but  by  what  it 
can  be  made  to  produce;  and  2d,  that  the 
cheap  labor  of  China  and  India  is  just  as 
available  for  the  cotton  business,  and  other 
branches  of  industry,  as  for  the  silk  business ; 
and  if  we  can  compete  with  them  in  cotton, 
&c.,  why  not  in  silk  ? 

Can  we  not  compete  with  that  cheap  la- 
bor ?  It  is  already  done.  Under  the  foster- 
ing care  of  our  own  government,  in  the  in- 
fancy of  our  manufactures,  we  have  already 
done  it,  and  done  it  triumphantly.  What  a 
triumph  has  America  achieved !  Do  we 
want  proofs  ?  Go,  move  within  the  small 
space  protected  by  this  sheltering  roof,  and 
there  examine  for  yourselves  the  product  of 
the  loom,  the  forge,  the  workshop,  and  the 
bench.  (Cheers.)  My  heart  swells  while  I 
point  you  to  those  noble  efforts  of  our  com- 
mon countrymen.  I  was  born,  sir,  under  the 
morning  shadows  of  the  Green  Mountains : 
but  I  am  an  American ;  and  never  did  I  feel 
the  proud  boast  of  an  American  citizen  as  at 
this  moment,  while  I  point  my  fellow-citi- 
zens to  these  visible  demonstrations  of  the 
onward  progress  of  our  glorious  republic. 
(Loud  and  continued  cheers.)  Yes,  those 
cheers  delight  my  New  England  heart.  1 
glory  in  the  enthusiasm  which  bursts  around 
me  to-night,  and  ascribe  its  sincerity  to  the 
great  topic  of  the  day — OUR  COUNTRY'S  GLO- 
RIOUS ELEVATION  !  (Loud  cries,  cheers,  and 
shouts  of,  Go  on,  New  England,  go  on.)  In 
my  recollection,  our  countrywomen  had  to 
pay  from  25  to  40  cents  per  yard  for  coarse 
sleezy  cottons,  which  now  you  could  not 
palm  on  them  even  as  a  gift.  No,  they  would 
rather  consign  them  to  the  paper  mill,  and 
go  to  the  shops  and  buy  an  article  worth 
something.  (Loud  cheers.) 

How  has  all  this  change  been  brought 
about  ?  American  skill,  and  enterprise,  and 
perseverance,  have  done  it  —  have  driven 
these  sleezy  hum  hums  of  olden  times  and 
foreign  lands  from  our  markets,  and  supplied 
a  better  article,  at  one  fourth  the  expense. 
And  not  only  this ;  we  are  now  shipping  to 
India  and  China  cotton  goods  to  supply  their 
markets  ;  carrying  our  cottons  right  home  to 
the  very  birthplace  of  the  cotton  culture 
and  the  cotton  business,  all  their  cheap  labor 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  To  other 
countries,  beyond  the  ocean,  we  are  shipping 
goods.  In  England,  France,  China,  and  in 
Asia,  the  products  of  our  looms  and  our  shops 
are  found.  (Yes,  and  our  dairies,  too.)  True, 
the  cheese  of  New  England  is  found  on  the 
table  of  the  old  English  squire  ;  but  this  is 
not  the  time  to  dwell  on  such  matters.  Have 
we  overcome  the  alleged  difficulties,  in  re- 
gard to  our  iron,  and  cotton,  and  woollens  ? 
We  have,  and  can  now  add  to  them  the  cul- 
ture of  silk.  For  this  business  we  have  ev- 
ery facility.  Our  soil  is  virgin,  our  sky  is 
blue,  and  our  people  are  Protestant.  (Loud 
cheers.)  Labor  is  valuable,  as  before  stated, 
not  from  what  it  costs,  but  from  what  it  pro- 


REPORT. 


duces.  Our  countrymen  are  intelligent, 
thinking,  working  people  ;  and  who  are  our 
competitors  ?  Go  to  European  and  Asiatic 
countries  for  your  answer.  A  free  Protes- 
tant community  will  ever  be  an  active,  im- 
proving, elevating  community.  England 
may  compete  with  us  in  the  manufacture  of 
silk,  but  she  can  never  grow  a  pound.  We  ! 
We  !  are  the  only  free  Protestant  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  globe,  which  can  be  at  the 
same  time  a  silk-growing,  and  a  silk-manu- 
facturing people.  1  refer  here  to  our  nation- 
al Protestantism,  merely  as  one  of  the  essen- 
tial elements  of  our  national  enterprise,  with- 
out going  at  all  into  any  theological  discus- 
sions. (Loud  cheers.)  'But  I  find  I  have 
gone  beyond  my  allotted  time.  (No,  no  !  go 
on,  go  on !) 

I  have  one  or  two  observations,  and  then 
1  have  finished.  The  silk  business  has  had 
much  more  to  contend  with  than  is  general- 
ly imagined.  We  require  the  growth  of  the 
foliage,  and  it  takes  two  or  three  years  to 
bring  this  to  perfection.  Silk  culture  re- 
sembles fruit-growing — we  must  plant  the 
tree,  and  await  its  budding  time.  It  was  a 
different  case  from  that  of  corn,  and  grain, 
and  so  on.  It  was  a  gradual  business,  and 
required  patience,  and  the  fostering  care  of 
the  States  and  Nation.  It  was  recollected 
that  the  first  implantation  of  the  silk  culture 
in  Italy,  France,  &c.,  took  longer  than  it 
had  done  Jiere.  And  so  had  there  been  ad- 
ventitious difficulties  in  the  way  —  the  over- 
zeal  of  friends  in  pressing  the  enterprise  too 
rapidly,  and  without  reflection  and  judg- 
ment. These  things  had,  however,  he  was 
happy  to  say,  been  all  met  and  essentially 
overcome.  The  friends  of  this  cause  now 
breathed  more  freely.  (Applause.)  Public 
opinion,  instead  of  opposing  it,  was  fast  set- 
ting in  its  favor.  No  longer  were  "  Multi- 
caulis  speculations  "  the  theme  of  general 
ridicule,  (a  laugh,)  and  the  newspapers  no 
longer  amused  themselves  with  cracking 
their  jokes  at  our  Utopian  schemes.  All  our 
agricultural  papers  in  the  country  treated  it 
with  approval ;  and,  indeed,  the  Press,  gener- 
ally, were  either  in  favor  of  it,  or  were  fair, 
and  open  to  the  consideration  of  its  merits. 

The  speaker  (who  was  listened  to  with 
great  interest  throughout)  then  adverted  to 
the  fact  which  American  silk-growers  had 
fully  demonstrated  —  that  all  that  was  es- 
sential to  produce  the  article  in  perfection 
was,  the  simplest  kind  of  shelter  for  the 
worms,  the  open  shed,  or  tent,  and  the  pure, 
free,  unadulterated  air  of  heaven. 

Mr.  B.  then  alluded  to  the  great  number 
of  letters,  corroborating  these  statements, 
which  the  Convention  had  received  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  ;  and  named  them  in 
the  following  order  :  Arkansas,  Mississippi, 
North  Carolina,  Maryland,  "  The  Far  West," 
Wisconsin,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Tennessee,  Ken- 
tucky, Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Maine.  Yes,  —  "  down-east," 
with  all  its  chilling  breezes,  can  grow  silk, 


said  he:  I  have  here  the  fullest  and  most 
satisfactory  documentary  evidence  to  prove 
it.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  Maine  can 
compete  with  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States  in  the  culture  of  the  article.  He 
would  make  no  such  comparisons  ;  but  this 
he  would  say,  silk  could  be  successfully  cul- 
tivated any  where,  East,  West,  North,  or 
South,  wherever  corn  could  be  cultivated  !  — 
(Protracted  applause.) 

Mr.  B.  then  expressed  the  thanks  of  the 
Convention  to  the  American  Institute  for 
the  vigorous  measures  they  had  adopted  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  silk  business ; 
and  expressed  the  hope,  that  the  silk  speci- 
mens, in  the  horticultural  room,  would  be 
carefully  examined  by  all.  He  then  adverted 
(in  a  strain  of  quiet  humor)  to  the  fact,  that 
he  wore  a  velvet  vest  and  cravat,  grown 
and  manufactured  among  the  green  stumps 
of  Ohio  ;  that  he  should  be  happy  to  tell  his 
audience  something  about  them,  only  his 
good  mother  always  taught  him  never  to 
talk  about  his  own  clothes — especially  when 
he  happened  to  have  something  rather  nice, 

—  rather  above  the  common  run  of  things. 
(Laughter  and  cheers.)     But  if  his  audience 
would  come  and  shake  hands  with  him,  he 
should   be   very   happy   to    show  them   his 
jacket !     (Roars   of  laughter,   and   cries   of 
go  on  !)     He  then  bespoke  the  kind  regards 
of  the  auditory  for  the  cause  of  silk  culture, 

—  an  enterprise  that  was  yet,  in  his  opinion, 
to  feed  and  clothe,  and  educate  unborn  mil- 
lions in  this  land.     A  word  before  we  part. 
Here  I  present  to  your  inspection  a  manu- 
script copy  of  a  work  on  silk,  written  by  the 
pen   of  that  good   man,  Dr.  Stiles,  of  Yale     - 
College.     It  is  a  full,  detailed  account  of  the  N( 
culture   of  silk  from  1763   to  1790,  during 
which  interval  he  was  zealously  engaged  in 
philosophical  experiments  in  feeding  the  silk- 
worm.    All  the  great  facts  which  the  doctor 
here  records  are  now  found  to  be  true  ;  for 
the  same   sun  shines,  and  the  same  winds 
blow.     The  volume  is  prepared  with  the  ut- 
most care,  and  belongs,  as  a  bequest,  to  the 
Library  of  Yale   College.     It  is  exactly  in 
the  state  in  which  the  worthy  doctor  left  it, 
bound  with  the  very  string  which  his  own 
hands  had  tied,  and  surrounded  with  all  the 
veneration  with  which  respect  for  the  hon- 
ored dead  can  invest  it.     Here  it  is,  (holding 
up  an  old,  thick,  marble-covered  volume,  of 
letter-paper   size,   bound   with   a  great  silk 
cord)  —  a  relic   of  days  gone  by.     The  au- 
dience  evinced   their  respect  in  a  general, 
but  suppressed  buzz  of  welcome  greeting. 
My  friends,  I  would  pass  it  round,  but  it  has 
been  left  in  my  charge,  with  sacred  orders 

to  preserve  it  safe  and  sound,  and  I  cannot 
run  any  risks  with  a  volume  so  precious; 
but  if  any  of  you  desire  to  see  it,  come  to 
my  rooms,  and  there  you  shall  have  a  full 
and  sufficient  examination  of  its  contents. 
(Cheers,  amid  which  the  speaker  took  his 
seat,  the  applause  continuing  for  several 
minutes.) 

B 


10 


REPORT. 


SECOND  DAY,  October  13th. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order 
this  morning  at  11  o'clock,  when  the 
minutes  were  read  and  accepted.  Gen- 
eral Talhnadge,  the  President  of  the  Con- 
vention, in  the  Chair.  The  unfinished 
business  of  yesterday,  being  the  adop- 
tion or  rejection  of  the  resolutions,  was 
brought  forward  for  action,  but  before 
they  were  all  disposed  of,  the  Convention 
adjourned,  and  proceeded  to  Niblo's,  to 
near  the  address  of  Dr,  Smith,  of  Balti- 
more, l>efore  the  American  Institute. 

The  Bands  of  the  North  Carolina  and 
of  Governor's  Island  were  in  attendance, 
and  played  several  national  and  select 
pieces,  alternately,  through  the  day.  The 
Managers,  together  with  the  members  of 
the  Silk  Convention,  took  their  seats  in 
the  centre  of  the  gallery,  and  the  Presi- 
dent announced  the  speaker,  introducing 
him  as  Dr.  Smith,  of  Baltimore ;  a  sound, 
practical,  working  member,  who  read  from 
his  notes  the  following  quaint,  lucid,  and 
interesting  address  on  silk  culture,  which 
was  received  with  repeated  bursts  of  ap- 
plause on  the  part  of  the  audience. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  :  I  comply  most 
cheerfully  with  the  request  of  some  over- 
partial  friends,  in  offering  a  few  remarks  on 
the  very  interesting  subject  that  has  called 
us  this  day  together.  Entirely  unaccustomed 
to  public  speaking,  I  shall  need,  and  feel  as- 
sured I  shall  receive,  the  indulgence  of  this 
respectable  audience  for  the  many  imperfec- 
tions I  may  exhibit.  For  seventeen  years 
I  have  watched,  with  intense  interest,  the 
progress  of  the  cause  we  are  now  endeavoring 
to  advance.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
term,  the  silk-worm  was  kept  at  a  public  ex- 
hibition at  the  place  of  my  residence,  as  an 
object  of  curiosity,  and  excited  great  interest. 
1  saw  the  five  hundred  worms  of  that  exhi- 
bition increased,  in  the  progress  of  years,  to 
probably  a  hundred  millions.  I  saw  them 
leave  the  tables  of  the  exhibition  room  for 
tlie  shelves  and  hurdles  of  the  numerous 
cocooneries  of  our  country  ;  and  I  rejoiced 
in  the  increase  and  the  change,  because  I 
saw  in  them  the  filaments  of  the  fabric  that 
should  one  day  form  the  banner  of  our 
country's  independence.  During  that  long 
interval  of  time,  I  have  seen  nothing  that 
discouraged  the  idea  that  this  country  might 
become  a  silk-producing  nation;  on  the  con- 
trary, every  circumstance  that  has  come 
under  my  notice,  has  tended  more  and  more 
to  the  conviction,  that  we  are  better  qualified 
for  this  business  than  any  other  people  on 
earth.  There  is  no  natural  qualification  that 
we  do  not  possess  in  a  superior  degree  to  any 
othi-T  p'-ople;  and  who  shall  say  that  the 
Americans  are  inferior  to  any  others  in  in- 
dustry, ingenuity,  energy,  anil  perseverance  ? 
Our  snil  and  climate  are  admirably  adapted 


to  the  growth  of  the  mulberry -tree,  as  has 
been  abundantly  proved  by  the  late  mulberry- 
tree  excitement  —  there  not  being  a  single 
county,  that  has  been  settled  by  inhabitants, 
where  the  mulberry-tree  may  not  now  be 
found  growing,  and  bearing  testimony,  by  its 
thriftiness  and  vigor,  to  the  congeniality  of 
our  soil  and  climate  to  its  nature.  During 
the  years  1838,  '39,  and  '40,  great  numbers  of 
trees  were  imported  from  I  ranee  and  Italy, 
and  I  had  frequent  opportunities  for  compar- 
ing them  with  those  grown  in  various  parts 
of  our  own  country.  The  result  was,  that, 
upon  a  fair  average,  trees  raised  in  this 
country,  of  one  year's  grovrth,  were  equal  in 
size  and  productiveness  to  those  of  Europe, 
of  three  years'  growth.  And  as  to  the  silk- 
worm, I  know  there  is  no  other  climate  in 
which  it  is  more  healthy,  or  where  it  thrives 
more  vigorously.  It  is  true  we  have  met 
with  many  disasters  from  the  diseases  inci- 
dent to  silk -worms ;  but  in  what  country 
do  these  disasters  not  happen  ?  The  public 
statistics  of  Europe  report  that  an  average 
of  one  half  of  all  the  silk-worms  that  are 
hatched  there,  perish  from  disease.  We  have 
no  such  statistics  from  China ;  but  I  have  no 
doubt  they  suffer  equally  there.  I  hazard 
little  in  saying  that  we  do  not  suffer  to  this 
extent.  But  the  ingenuity  of  our  country- 
men, aided  by  the  lights  obtained  from  other 
countries,  will  soon  be  able  to  furnish  pre 
ventives,  and  we  may  encourage  ourselves 
with  the  prospect  of  an  entire  removal  of 
this  evil.  Already  have  we  made  improve- 
ments in  this  branch  of  the  silk  culture 
greater  than  had  been  made  in  Europe  in 
fifty  years  previously.  The  system  of  open 
air  feeding,  that  has  been  so  well  alluded  to 
in  this  place,  will  accomplish  much  in  this 
respect,  if  not  entirely  obviate  the  difficulty. 
Let  us  persevere,  then,  for  we  have  every 
thing  to  encourage  us;  and,  I  am  almost 
ready  to  say,  nothing  to  fear.  I  have  almost 
said,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  ;  and  we  have 
not,  except  it  be  a  singular  feeling  among 
fashionable  people,  which  seems  to  prefer 
any  thing  of  foreign  origin  to  American  pro- 
ductions. Will  it  be  credited  that  we  have 
large  quantities  of  American-made  goods, 
in  all  our  retail  shops,  which  the  retailers 
dare  not  call  American?  Will  it  be  credited 
that  we  have  a  large  establishment  that  man* 
ufactures  immense  quantities  of  silk  and 
worsted  vestings,  employing  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  Jacquard  looms,  and  working  up 
large  quantities  of  domestic  silk?  and  yet 
they  dare  not  let  it  be  known  tint  their 
goods  are  manufactured  in  this  country  ! 
They  even  declined  allowing  me  to  exhibit 
specimens  here  on  that  account.  We  must, 
therefore,  try  to  do  away  this  feeling  of  for- 
eignism,  and  to  excite  a  contrary  feeling  — 
we  must  try  to  make  our  people  feel  proud 
of  American  goods.  And  may  we  not  hope 
to  enlist  the  feelings  of  our  fair  sisters  in  this 
cause  ?  They  did  not  fail  us  when  the 
troubles  of  the  times  tried  men's  souls  — 
they  will  not  fail  us  now.  It  is  estimated 
that  we  consume,  on  an  average,  twelve 


REPORT. 


millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  silk  annually. 
For  this  we  have  to  pay  in  specie,  or  its 
equivalent.  Is  there  any  adept  in  figures 
present,  who  can  tell  us  what  eifect  the 
saving  of  this  amount  of  specie  annually  will 
have  upon  the  circulating  medium,  the  ex- 
changes, the  wealth,  and  welfare  of  our 
country  in  twenty  years  ?  I  arn  one  of 
those  who  go  for  our  country,  our  whole 
country,  and  nothing  but  our  country,  on  all 
such  questions  as  this.  I  wish  to  see  our 
own  land  produce  every  thing  that  our  peo- 
ple consume  ;  and  I  should  be  glad  to  see 
our  country  so  productive,  that  the  wars  and 
com  motions  of  the  world  would  not  be  able 
to  affect  us.  I  want  to  see  our  country  in 
such  a  situation,  that  if  a  wall  were  built 
around  it,  "  sky-high,  sir,"  we  should  not 
suffer  privation  of  a  single  necessary,  or 
comfort,  or  even  luxury,  of  life.  And  that 
would  be,  truly,  independence.  It  has  been 
said,.if  we  take  nothing  from  other  countries, 
other  countries  will  take  nothing  from  us. 
In  reply  to  this,  I  would  remark,  that  other 
countries  will,  at  all  events,  take  nothing 
from  us  that  they  can  do  without  —  that  they 
can  make  or  produce  themselves.  They,  at 
least,  always  have  acted  upon  this  principle  ; 
it  is  natural  they  should  do  so,  and  it  is  high 
time  that  we  do  the  same.  It  is  a  good 
maxim  for  any  people,  individually  and  col- 
lectively, to  buy  only  that  which  they  can- 
not themselves  produce.  The  profits  of  the 
culture  of  silk  are,  at  least,  remunerations. 
He  who  enters  upon  this  business  with  the 
expectation  of  realizing  five  hundred  to 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  every  acre  of 
ground  planted  in  mulberry-trees,  and  with 
the  supposition  that  he  even  occupy  as  many 
acres  as  he  pleases  in  this  way,  and  with  this 
profit,  will  certainly  be  disappointed.  But 
he  who  shall  commence  it  with  a  moderate 
portion  of  common  sense,  enlightened  by 
proper  information,  exercising  due  economy, 
moderate  skill,  and  an  ordinary  degree  of 
American  perseverance,  with  the  expectation 
of  a  good  living  profit,  will  be  sure  to  suc- 
ceed to  his  entire  satisfaction.  I  am  in- 
clined to  the  belief  that  the  culture  of  silk 
should  be  made  one  of  the  objects  of  atten- 
tion of  every  farmer's  family,  as  is  the  pro- 
duction of  butter,  and  other  articles  of  domes- 
tic produce.  Let  every  family  rear  twenty 
to  fifty  thousand  silk-worms,  more  or  less, 
as  their  situation  and  arrangements  justify. 
Let  them  reel  the  cocoons,  make  what  sew- 
ing-silk, mils,  and  hosiery  they  may  require, 
out  of  the  produce,  and  sell  the  nicely-reeled 
and  prepared  overplus  raw  silk  to  the  mer- 
chant or  manufacturer.  Is  not  the  immense 
amount  of  butter  consumed  in  the  United 
States,  produced  in  this  way  ?  Are  not 
many  other  articles,  of  imfnense  magnitude 
in  the  aggregate,  all  accumulated  from  the 
collection  together  of  small  parcels,  produced 
in  this  small  way  ?  Despise  not,  therefore, 
these  small  things;  but  remember,  that  as 
mountains  are  composed  of  ultimate  atoms, 
so  small  as  to  be  almost  unappreciable,  so 
is  the  aggregate  of  the  wealth  of  a  peo- 


ple. What  though  we  have  exported  to  for- 
eign countries  forty-seven  millions  of  dollars' 
worth  of  cotton  during  the  year  ending  '30th 
of  September,  184J?";  has  not  this  mass  of 
wealth  been  collected  together  from  the 
myriads  of  small  bolls  in  which  it  grew, 
each  in  itself  not  worth  intrinsically  the  tithe 
of  the  tenth  of  a  cent  ?  And  whit  though 
the  silk-worm,  individually,  produces  but 
a  small  filament  of  itself,  and,  by  itself,  al- 
most worthless  ;  does  not  the  combination  of 
these  filaments  compose  the  thread  that 
forms  the  fabric  that  costs  us  annually 
twelve  to  twenty  millions  of  hard-earned 
dollars  ?  But  I  am  by  no  means  ready  to 
admit  that  the  silk  culture  can  only  be  car- 
ried on  profitably  by  farmers'  families  in  a 
small  way.  When  judiciously  pursued,  with 
such  information,  skill,  and  economy,  as  are 
at  all  times  at  command  in  all  American 
communities,  and  as  are  necessary  to  success 
in  any  other  business,  it  will  be  found  a 
profitable  business  on  a  large  scale  —  on  any 
scale.  This  has  been  proved  satisfactorily 
by  the  success,  to  an  eminent  degree,  of  the 
people  of  the  society  at  Economy,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  by  Mr.  Gill,  of  Mount  Pleasant, 
Ohio,  and  numerous  others.  On  the  score 
of  profit,  therefore,  there  is  no  reason  for 
despondency,  but  every  thing  to  encourage 
us  to  proceed  in  the  silk  culture.  I  am 
sorry  I  cannot  say  much  of  the  success  of 
the  business  in  the  Southern  States.  The 
people  there  seem  to  lack  that  individual 
energy  arid  perseverance,  and,  especially, 
that  appreciation  of  small  things  necessary 
to  the  success  of  such  a  business.  But,  in 
the  North  and  East,  where  industry,  energy, 
and  ingenuity  dwell ;  and  in  the  West,  the 
great  West,  the  young  giant  of  the  world, 
where  enterprise  progresses  with  a  whirl- 
wind rush,  where  every  seed  that  is  planted 
is  soon  to  produce  fruit,  either  from  the  un- 
diluted richness  of  its  soil,  or  the  indomitable 
exertions  and  energy  of  its  people  —  in  both 
of  these  sections  of  our  country  will  the  silk 
business  flourish  profitably  to  individuals, 
and  to  our  country,  until  the  entries  in  our 
custom-house  books  shall  be  reversed  ;  until, 
instead  of  the  importation  of  $20,000,000 
of  silk,  we  shall  see  recorded  there  the  ex- 
portation of  $40,000,000  worth  annually. 
A  few  practical  remarks  may  be  admissible 
here.  Before  we  can  hope  for  complete  suc- 
cess in  the  silk  culture,  we  must  learn  more 
of  the  minute  details  ;  we  want  more  pa- 
tience in  the  tedious  processes;  and,  above 
all,  as  before  suggested,  we  must  try  to  be 
satisfied  with  moderate,  but  still  remunera- 
tive profits.  We  must  not  expect  to  make  a 
thousand  dollars  where  the  same  amount  of 
capital  and  labor  invested  in  any  other 
business  would  only  make  a  hundred.  We 
must  not  expect  to  rear  successfully  a  million 
of  worms  in  a  space  calculated  only  for  a 
tithe  of  that  number.  We  must  not  treat 
the  delicate  silk-worms  as  we  do  our  hogs, 
by  throwing  a  basket  of  food  among  them, 
and  then  let  them  take  care  of  themselves. 
The  very  nice  and  delicate  operation  of  un- 


REPORT. 


winding  the  fibre  from  the  cocoons  must 
receive  more  care  and  attention.  We  are 
not  spinning  cotton,  nor  wool,  nor  hemp. 
The  extremely  attenuated  and  lustrous  fibre 
must  be  gathered  upon  the  aspel  with  all 
delicacy  and  care.  The  water  of  the  basin 
must  be  kept  pure,  that  the  lustre  of  the 
silk  may  not  be  tarnished  ;  the  thread  must 
be  kept  even,  by  careful  attention  to  the 
number  of  cocoons  running  off.  I  have 
seen  very  little  raw  silk  for  sale  in  the  mar- 
ket prepared  as  it  should  be,  and  as  it  must 
be,  to  compete  successfullv  with  that  from 
Piedmont.  But  I  have  seen  some,  (and  for 
such  I  refer  you  to  specimens  in  the  Hall,) 
and  enough,  even  in  the  absence  of  any 
other  proof  of  our  capacity,  to  prove  our 
ability  to  produce  as  good  an  article  as  can 
be  made  by  any  other  people  under  the  sun. 
Let  reelers  be  informed,  and  always  bear  in 
mind,  that  care  and  skill  will  make  their 
pound  of  silk  worth  six  or  seven  dollars  ; 
whereas  carelessness  and  inattention  will 
make  it  worth  no  more  than  three  or  four 
dollars.  Will  it  be  believed,  that  two  reelers 
shall  each  take  one  bushel  of  the  same  par- 
cel of  cocoons,  —  being  a  fair  day's  work  for 
each,  —  and  the  one  shall  produce  from  her 
portion  a  pound  of  silk  worth  six  dollars, 
while  the  other  shall  produce  the  same 
quantity  worth  only  three  dollars,  the  latter 
being  not  even  the  value  qf  the  cocoons  be- 
fore she  began  to  reel  them  ?  This  is  an  im- 
portant point  in  the  silk  business.  It  has 
always  formed  the  stumbling-block  to  our 
progress  heretofore;  but  I  trust  it  will  no 
longer  be  permitted  to  remain  so.  The 
curing  of  cocoons  is  another  subject  of  deep 
interest.  In  this  we  are  already  far  ahead 
of  our  European  competitors.  The  appli- 
cation of  heat,  either  artificial  or  natural, 
in  killing  the  chrysolid,  should  be  avoided 
It  injures  the  fibre,  and  increases  the  diffi 
culty  of  reeling.  So,  also,  do  the  fumes  of 
sulphur,  by  depositing  sulphuric  acid  upon 
the  fibre,  the  gum  of  which  does  not  entirely 
protect  it  from  its  effects.  Camphor,  in 
tight  boxes,  effectually  kills  the  insect,  leav- 
ing the  cocoons  in  a  state  for  reeling  equal 
to  that  before  curing.  But  the  best  of  al] 
is  the  vacuum  box  —  an  American  sugges- 
tion. If  this  announcement  depreciates  its 
value,  I  cannot  help  it.  Placing  the  cocoons 
in  an  air-tight  box,  and  exhausting  the  air 
by  means  of  a  simple  pump,  will  kill  the 
insects  directly,  or  in  a  few  hours.  By 
placing  a  small  quantity  of  camphor  in  the 
box,  the  cocoons  may  be  preserved  in  i' 
from  any  bad  effects  for  several  weeks. 

The  only  suggestion  I  have  to  make  in 
furtherance  of  the  object  of  this  Convention 
is,  that  facilities  be  offered,  in  all  parts  of 
our  country,  for  the  conversion  of  smal 
parcels  of  cocoons  into  raw  silk  ;  in  other 
words,  that  agencies  should  be  established 
for  the  purchase  of  cocoons,  in  all  our  prin 
cipal  cities,  from  such  persons  as  cannot  01 
will  not  reel  them.  I  do  not  pretend  to  be 
able  to  say  how  this  can  be  done ;  I  am  only 
able  to  point  it  out  as  the  most  efficien 


means  for  accomplishing  the  great  object  we 
lave  in  view.  Three  or  four  filatures  might 
>e  established ;  one  in  New  York,  one  in 
"hiladelphia,  one  in  Hartford,  one  in  Boston, 

—  one  more  in  Baltimore  would  do  no  harm, 

—  and  each  of  these  should  have  agencies  iu 
.he  surrounding  cities,  towns,  and  villages, 
"or  the  purchase  of  cocoons.     This  would  at 
>nce  create  a  market  for  the  small  parcels 
jf  cocoons,  and  the  profitable  disposition  of 
hese   small  parcels  would  at  once,  and  of 
tself,  place  the  raising  of  silk-worms  among 
;he  ordinary  objects   of  domestic   industry. 
The  absence  of  such  a  market  has,  hereto- 
fore, had  a  very  disheartening  effect  upon 
silk-growers.     I  am  unable  to  suggest  any 
of  the  details  of  such  a  plan,  and  only  give 
'.t  as  my  belief,  that  some  such  arrangement 

s  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  silk  cause, 
t  have  thought  these  practical  hints  might 
be  acceptable  to  some  here ;  but  1  have  al- 
ready occupied  the  time  of  the  Convention 
longer  than  I  intended.  Permit  me,  in  con- 
clusion, to  congratulate  you  on  the  prospect 
of  the  early  accomplishment  of  the  great 
object  which  we  all  have  at  heart,  and  once 
more  to  recall  to  your  attention  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  interest  we  are  advocating. 
Suppose,  for  example,  that  we  had  the  pow- 
er to  recall  all  the  money  that  has  been  paid 
for  silk  during  the  last  twenty  years;  we 
should  then  be  able  to  pay  the  whole  in- 
debtedness of  our  country.  Look  at  it.  Dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  years,  we  have  imported 
and  consumed  two  hundred  and  twenty  mil- 
lions of  dollars'  worth  of  silk.  The  whole  in- 
debtedness of  our  country  amounts  to  about 
the  same  sum,  and  the  whole  has  been  ac- 
cumulated witlain  the  same  time.  Suppose 
we  had  consumed  the  same  amount  of  silk, 
but  that  of  American  product;  this  vast 
amount  would  at  this  time  be  in  our  coffers. 
But  it  is  useless  to  reflect  upon  past  negli- 
gence, except  so  far  as  the  reflection  throws 
light  upon  our  future  course  of  conduct; 
and  it  is  for  this  purpose,  that  it  is  now  re- 
ferred to.  The  question,  then,  is,  and  with 
it  I  now  conclude,  Shall  we  make  our  own 
silk  ?  Or  shall  we  continue  to  drain  our 
country  of  its  previous  metals,  to  supply  us 
with  it  from  abroad?  1  think  I  know  my 
countrymen  sufficiently  to  enable  me  to  an- 
swer for  them  the  first  branch  of  the  ques- 
tion—  We  will;  the  second  —  We  will  not. 
Mr.  Smith  closed,  carrying  off  the  uttered 
thanks  and  the  hearty  good-will  of  all  pres- 
ent. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

The  Convention  met  according  to  ad- 
journment—  President  Tallmadge  in  the 
chair.  The  resolutions,  as  reported  by 
the  Business  Committee,  and  amended 
by  the  Convention,  were  unanimously 
passed,  and  are  given  below. 

Specimens  of  silk  handkerchiefs,  which 
were  pronounced  by  competent  judges  to 
be  of  a  very  excellent  quality,  spun  and 


REPORT. 


13 


wove  by  girls  who,  four  months  before, 
had  never  seen  a  loom,  were  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Murray,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey. 
A  vote  of  thanks  to  Messrs.  Allen,  of  the 
American  Agriculturist,  and  Fleet,  of  the 
United  States  Fanner,  for  copies  of  their 
respective  journals  sent  in  for  distribu- 
tion among  the  members,  was  passed. 

Mr.  Barbour  gave  notice  that  the  pub- 
lishers of  the  Tribune  have  now  in  press, 
and  will  publish  on  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember next,  a  work  on  Silk ;  containing 
a  general  history  of  its  introduction  and 
culture  in  Europe  and  the  United  States ; 
the  natural  history  of  the  different  spe- 
cies of  Silk- Worm  ;  the  Mulberry-Tree  ; 
its  varieties  and  peculiarities;  a  history 
of  the  Morus  Multicaulis  speculation  in 
the  United  States ;  progress  of  the  cul- 
ture of  Silk,  Machinery,  &c.  The  prin- 
cipal documents,  and  much  useful  infor- 
mation on  many  of  the  subjects  embraced 
in  the  volume,  were  collected  by  Mr.  B. 

Mr.  B.  said  the  work  was  designed  to 
be,  not  a  Silk  Manual,  although  there  is 
enough  in  it  to  guide  any  beginner  in  his 
first  essays.  It  is  more  scientific,  and 
adapted  to  interest  the  general  reader. 
It  abounds  with  plates  representing  the 
silk-worm  in  all  its  changes,  together 
with  a  silk  reel  and  all  the  machinery 
employed  in  the  silk  manufacture  in  Eu- 
rope. It  has  been  got  up  by  the  enter- 
prising publishers  at  a  great  expense,  as 
constituting  the  6th  Number  of  their 
Series  of  «  Useful  Works  for  the  People." 
Any  ingenious  mechanic  can  take  these 
plates,  and  make  the  reel,  or  the  ma- 
chinery represented. 

The  President  read  a  note  from  Mr. 
Allen,  saying  that  he  would  be  happy  .to 
publish  the  proceedings  of  the  Conven- 
tion, or  any  communication  the  friends 
of  the  silk  business  might  make  on  the 
subject,  and,  as  far  as  consistent  with 
other  great  interests,  to  make  his  paper 
the  organ  of  the  Silk  interest. 

Mr.  Fleet  was  present,  and  stated  that 
he  would  most  willingly  lend  his  in- 
fluence to  the  noble  cause.  Short  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Mr.  Prince  and 
others,  in  which  they  stated  that  silk,  as 
well  as  cotton  and  woollen  goods,  and  cut- 
lery, were  labelled  "English,"  "French," 
and  "  Italian,"  in  order  to  make  them  sell 
in  our  city  markets. 

Mr.  Smith  said  that  there  was  a  large 
silk  manufacturing  establishment  in  Bal- 
timore, running  from  15  to  20  Jacquard 
looms,  and  making  the  best  of  silk  goods, 
but  selling  them  all  as  foreign.  They 
would  not  even  permit  him  to  bring 
samples  of  their  goods  to  the  Convention 


to  exhibit  as  American,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  expose  them.* 

The  difficulty  is,  not  that  our  fabrics  are 
not  equal  to  those  of  Europe,  but  the 
idea  had  gone  abroad  that  nothing  of 
American  production  could  possibly  be 
as  good  as  the  imported  article.  General 
Tallmadge  made  some  pointed  remarks 
in  reference  to  this  feeling. 

Mr.  Barbour  said  he  was  sorry  to  be 
obliged  to  say,  that  this  anti-American 
feeling  was  encouraged  and  strengthened 
by  the  example  of  men  in  high  places. 
Even  our  Congress,  (as  an  American  he 
was  ashamed  to  acknowledge  it,  but  the 
truth  must  he  told,)  even  our  Congress, 
when  they  wanted  a  new  carpet  to  set 
their  republican  feet  upon,  must  needs 
send  to  England  for  it  —  leaving  unno- 
ticed and  untouched  a  better  and  a 
cheaper  article,  grown  on  the  backs  of 
republican  sheep,  and  manufactured  by 
republican  hands. 

Mr.  Gill,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Jefferson  Co., 
Ohio,  presented,  for  the  examination  of 
the  Convention,  a  model  of  his  Ventilating 
Cradle.  The  design  of  this  cradle  is  to 
save  labor  in  cleaning  the  worms,  and  to 
give  them,  at  the  same  time,  the  benefit 
of  a  local  circulation  of  the  air.  In  the 
experience  of  Mr.  G.  and  several  others, 
this  cradle,  with  the  open  shed  or  tent, 
curtails  expenses  nearly  one  half,  and 
adds  to  the  quantity  and  the  quality  of 
the  crop.  The  Convention  heard  Mr. 
G.'s  explanations  with  a  great  deal  of 
satisfaction,  having  full  confidence  in  the 
utility  of  the  system,  as  a  system  for 
general  adoption. 

Mr.  Pratt,  of  Shelburne,  Mass.,  laid 
on  the  table  a  very  neat  card  of  specimen 
silk  goods,  manufactured  by  his  daugh- 
ters, of  the  age  of  ten  and  thirteen,  and 
knit  by  an  invalid  sister.  He  gave  a  suc- 
cinct history  of  his  experience  in  rearing 
worms,  and  preparing  the  silk  for  the 
knitting-needle.  He  expressed  the  full- 
est confidence  in  the  success  of  the  silk- 
worm on  this  continent. 

A  resolution  was  next  passed  that  a 
subscription  list  be  opened  to  defray  the 
expense  of  printing  the  Report ;  that 
each  delegate  and  member  of  the  Con- 
vention be  a  committee  to  collect  funds 
in  his  neighborhood;  and  that  all  sub- 
scribers be  entitled  to  the  full  amount  of 
their  subscription  in  copies  of  the  Report 
at  cost. 

The  President  here  gave  an  interest- 


*  Since  the  Convention  closed  I  have  learned  that 
there  are  tens  of  thousands  of  labels  printed  in  this  city, 
by  one  individual,  for  American  sewing  silk,  as  B°*t 
Italian  Sewing  Silk.  Immense  quantities  are  sold 
under  this  deception.  I.  R.  B. 


14 


REPORT. 


ing  sketch  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  pros- 
pects of  the  American  Institute.  He 
urged  the  subscription  committee  to  pro- 
ceed boldly.  The  proprietors  of  the  prin 
cipal  hotels  in  this  city,  the  merchants, 
and  others  who  derive  a  benefit  from  the 
influx  of  strangers  to  the  exhibition,  he 
thought  would  be  liberal  in  aiding  the 
cause.  The  princely  proprietor  of  How- 
ard's House  had  offered  his  name  as 
good  for  $  50,  and  others  would  follow 
this  generous  example,  doubtless.  For 
himself;  the  general  offered  his  cheerful 
aid  to  help  on  the  work.  — He  was  ready 
to  share  equally  the  expense  and  the  de- 
mand on  his  personal  services.  Hither- 
to they  had  been  given  freely,  and  he 
was  not  yet  drained  in  his  good  inten- 
tions. 

,  But  before  he  put  the  motion  to  ad- 
journ, he  tendered  to  ^ie  press  of  the 
city,  which  had  so  generously  aided  the 
cause  of  the  Institute  in  their  exertions 
for  public  favor,  and  in  giving  place  in 
their  columns  to  the  reports  of  the  Con- 
vention—  he  particularly  tendered  the 
thanks  of  the  Convention  to  the  Report- 
el's  of  the  Herald  and  Express,  for  the 
correct  and  faithful  reports  of  their  pro- 
ceedings. The  meeting  was  then  de- 
clared adjourned. 

Dr.  Stebhins,  at  the  close,  called  the 
attention  of  all  present  to  the  subject  of 
the  manufacture  of  paper  from  the  leaves 
of  the  multicaulis.  He  has  had  several 
reams  already  made,  which  satisfy  him 
that,  with  some  improvements,  an  excel- 
lent article  can  be  produced.  He  has  a 
ton  of  leaves  prepared,  ready  for  the  man- 
ufacturer's hands,  and  hopes  before  the 
meeting  of  the  next  Convention  to  be 
able  to  write  them  a  narrative  of  his  ex- 
periments on  a  sheet  of  multicaulis  letter- 
paper,  which  will  be  equal,  if  not  superior, 
to  the  best  hot-pressed  linen  paper  now 
used.  He  further  adverted  to  the  mat- 
ter of  obtaining  silk  for  coarse  goods 
from  the  inside  bark  of  the  mulberry  — 
already  it  had  been  tried  with  success, 
and  the  only  thing  wanted  was  some 
cunning  Yankee  invention,  wherewith  to 
strip  the  bark  from  the  tree  and  separate 
the  fibres. 

The  following  are  the  Resolutions 
adopted  by  the  Convention,  as  giving 
their  views  on  the  several  questions  be- 
fore them :  — 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  full  establishment 
of  the  silk  business,  as  an  integral  part  of 
the  ordinary  industry  of  this  country,  is  an 
object  claiming  the  early  and  high  regard 
of  every  patriot  and  philanthropist. 


2.  Resolved,  That  in  the  history  of  past 
experiments   in    growing   silk    in   the   early 
settlements  of  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  and 
Virginia,  in  Pennsylvania,  Connecticut,  and 
Massachusetts,    immediately    preceding    the 
Revolution,  and  subsequently,  and  especial- 
ly  in   the   larger,   more   general,  and  more 
successful  efforts  of  the  past  few  years,  we 
have   ample  grounds  for  augmented   confi- 
dence in  all  the  great  principles  on  which 
the  business  is  based. 

3.  Resolved,  That,  in  regard  to  all  agricul- 
tural products,   there  is   a  broad   and   well- 
d^fined  distinction  to  be  observed  between 
transient   and  permanent  causes  of  failure 
or  success  :  —  that  the  permanent  causes  are 
soil   and  climate;  and  that  wherever   these 
are  known  to  be  favorable  to  any  such  prod- 
uct,  we    should    never  be   discouraged    by 
transient  causes  operating  against  success  — 
knowing  that  these  causes  operate  in  like 
manner  in  regard  to  all  such  products. 

4.  Resolved,  That  as  American  silk,  in  the 
state  in  which  the  worm  leaves  it,  has  long 
been  known  to  be  of  first-rate  quality,  it  is 
adequate  proof,  that  the  soil  and  climate  of 
our  country  are   eminently  congenial  to  its 
culture,  inasmuch  as  these  two  things  are 
the  permanent  causes  that  control  the  quali- 
ty of  every  agricultural  product. 

5.  Resolved,    That   the   silk   culture   de- 
mands, for  its  successful  prosecution,  essen- 
tially the  same  climate,  and  the  same  kind 
of  seasons,  and  the  same  kinds   of  upland 
soils,  as  are  required  for  Indian  corn  ;  and, 
as  this  crop  is  successfully  cultivated  in  all 
the    States   and    Territories   of   the   Union, 
there  is  nothing  to  forbid,  but  every  thing 
to    encourage,    the   coextensive    cultivation 
of  the  silk  crop. 

6.  Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as,  in  America 
and  China,  the    mulberry-tree   is  found   in 
the  native  forest,  it  is  a  manifest  indication 
of  Divine   Providence,  that  this  country,  as 
well  as  China,  was  designed  to  be  a  great 
silk-growing  country. 

7.  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  experi- 
ments made  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try,  as   reported   to   this   Convention   from 
most  of  the  States  of  the   Union,  in  feeding 
worms  in  a  natural  state  of  the  atmosphere, 
we    are   happy   to   regard   the   question   as 
triumphantly  settled.  —  That,  in   our  supe- 
rior climate,  the  open  shed,  or  tent,  securing 
to  worms  ample  shade,  and  Heaven's  pure 
air   essentially   unobstructed,   is,   except  in 
very  early  or  very  late  feeding,  not  only  all 
that  is  needed  in  the  way  of  building,  but 
intrinsically   better    than    enclosed    rooms: 
Therefore, 

8.  Resolved,  That  1843  will  form  a  new 
era  in  the  history  of  the  silk  culture  in  the 
United  States. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  introduction  of  the 
foreign  varieties  of  the  mulberry-tree,  and 
the  Facility  with  which   they  have  become 
acclimated,  and  the  reasonable  expense  at 
which  they  may  now  be  procured  and  prop- 
agated, give  to  the  American  people  every 


REPORT. 


advantage  for  the   vigorous  prosecution  of 
the  silk  culture. 

Whereas,  In  the  feverish  excitements  of 
the  years  1838  and  '39,  many  exaggerated 
statements  were  put  forth,  by -persons  solely 
interested  in  trees  as  an  article  of  specula- 
tion, in  regard  to  the  profits  to  be  expected 
from  growing  silk,  and  in  regard  to  the 
intrinsic  value  of  the  mulberry-tree ;  and 
whereas,  in  the  prostration  that  came  sub- 
sequently over  this  business,  the  public 
mind  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  complete 
revulsion,  the  great  body  of  our  people  for 
a  time  regarding  the  whole  business  as  a 
delusion,  and  mulberry-trees  as  utterly 
worthless  —  fit  only  for  the  flames  and  the 
floods  —  therefore, 

10.  Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  due  to  our- 
selves, and  to  the  public,  in  all  candor  to 
say,  as  we  do  say,  that  the  silk  culture  is, 
in  our  judgment,  entirely  feasible,  and  may 
easily  become  second  to  no  other  business 
in  the  country  ;  that  when  conducted  with 
appropriate    practical   knowledge  and   skill, 
and    with   appropriate   facilities,  it  is  more 
profitable   than   other   ordinary  agricultural 
pursuits;    and  that  mulberry -trees,  for  the 
purposes  for  which  they  were  designed,  are 
intrinsically  valuable. 

11.  Resolved,  That  the  Convention  deeply 
regret  the  loss  which  the  country  has  sus- 
tained in  the  wanton  and  inconsiderate  cfe- 
struction  of  mulberry-trees  consequent  upon 
the  revulsion    above  referred   to;   and  they 
earnestly  recommend  to  the  present  owners 
of  trees  to  preserve  and  multiply  them  with 
all  due  care,  knowing  that  their  value  for 
making   silk   will,   in   due   time,  be   appre- 
ciated. 

12.  Resolved,  That  we  are  much  gratified 
in  beholding  the  many  manifestations  of  a 
growing  public  confidence  in  the  essential 
merits   of   the   silk  business;    and   we   are 
herein  decidedly  encouraged  to  go  forward 
in  the  business  ourselves,  using,  at  the  same 
time,  all  appropriate  means  to  enlighten  the 

Sublic  mind,  and  confirm  the  public  confi- 
ence,  still  more  fully.  For  this  purpose  we 
will  freely  communicate  to  individuals,  and 
to  the  Conductors  of  the  Newspaper  Press, 
the  results  of  our  own  experience,  and  such 
other  information  as  may  be  in  our  power 
to  give ;  exercising  all  due  care  to  keep 
within  the  limits  of  rigid  truth. 

13.  Resolved,  That  we  rejoice   in  the  lib- 
eral protection   designed  to  be  given  to  the 
silk  business  in  the  new  tariff;  and   in   the 
fact,  that  this  section  of  the   bill  excited  no 
opposition  from  any  quarter  of  the  country, 
we  have  a  pledge  that  the  policy  now  es- 
tablished will  remain  undisturbed,  and  that 
such  amendments  as  experience  has  already 
shown,  or  shall  hereafter  show,  to  be  neces- 
sary, will  be  readily  secured  ;  and,  further, 
inasmuch   as   our   Congress   has  never  im- 
posed discriminating  duties  except  in  favor 
of  such  products  as  may  be   brought  forth 
from  our  own  fields  and  workshops,  this  act 
is  only  the  expressed  opinion  of  the  intelli- 
gent body  that  passed  it,  that  our  country 


can  as  well  make  its  own  silks  as  its  cot- 
tons and  woollens,  its  hats  and  its  shoes,  its 
ploughs,  its  nails,  and  its  axes. 

Wkeretis,  The  present  -tariff  prescr  bes  a 
duty  of  fifty  cents  on  the  pound  \>f  raw  silk, 
or  silk  in  the  gum,  and  a  higher  duty  on 
sewings,  and  other  manufactured  silks  ;  and 
whereas  we  are  fully  informed  that  sewings 
and  other  silks  can  be,  and  are  imported 
nearly  ready  for  the  market,  and  yet  retain- 
ing the  gum,  coming  in  under  this  low  duty 
—  therefore, 

14.  Restilned,  That  we  consider  this  a 
manifest  and  a  gross  invasion  of  the  law 
designed  to  aid  the  American  manufacturer. 

15.  Resolved,  That  General  James  Tall- 
madge,  I.  R.  Barbour.  John  W.  Gill,  Gideon 
B.^mith,  Horace  Pitkin,  and  J.  Danforth, 
be  a  Committee  to  claim  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  the  prompt  correction  of 
this  abuse  ;  and,  in  case  it  should  become 
necessary^  that  they  lay  the  subject  before 
Congress  at  the  early  part  of  its  approaching 
session. 

Whereas,  From  the  returns  made  to  the 
Convention,  it  appears  there  has  been  a 
large  increase  in  the  quantity  of  cocoons 
raised  in  the  country  the  present  season, 
especially  at  the  West  and  the  South-West, 
so  large  as  to  give  just  grounds  to  fear  that 
many  will  be.  lost  for  the  want  of  being; 
timely  and  suitably  reeled  —  therefore, 

16  Resalved,  That  the  early  and  earnest 
attention  of  the  friends  of  the  silk  cause  be 
directed  to  family  reeling,  and  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  filatures  for  purchasing  and  reel- 
ing cocoons,  in  different  localities  where 
they  are  now  urgently  needed ;  and  that 
the  Legislatures  of  the  several  States  be 
requested  to  grant  liberal  bounties,  to  en- 
courage this  important  and  essential  part 
of  the  general  business — reeling  silk  in  ai 
manner  suitable  for  all  the  varieties  of  silk 
goods. 

17.  Resolved,  That   this   Convention   are 
exceedingly  gratified,  in  witnessing,  as  they 
do  on  this  occasion,  such  a  rich  variety  of 
cocoons,  raw  silks,  sewings,  twists,  braids, 
gimps,   cords,   ribbons,    handkerchiefs,   cra- 
vats,  hosiery,   laces,   flowered    tissues    and 
brocades,  in  great  variety,  for  vestings,  plain 
and    flowered    lustrings,    and    many    other 
kinds  of  dress  silks,  velvets,  satins,  serges, 
armozines,  and  other  silk  goods,  grown   up- 
on our  own  soils,  and  under  our  own  bril- 
liant skies,  and  manufactured  by   the  skilf 
of  our  own  citizens. 

18.  Resolved,  That  our  manufacturers,  and 
other  business  men,  have  now  every  reason- 
able encouragement  to  invest,  in  a  wise  and 
careful  manner,  their  funds  in  this  new  form 
of  Domestic  Labor  —  growing  and  manufac- 
turing silk. 

19.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  Teams 
with  deep  regret  that,  as  in  other  kinds  of 
American  manufactures,  it  has  hitherto  been 
deemed  necessary  to  attach  the  foreign  la- 
bels,  English,   French,  and  Italian,  to   the 
excellent  sewings   and   fabrics  of  our  own 
silk  manufactures,  in  order  to  command  a 


16 


REPORT. 


ready  sale  in  our  city  markets,  superior  as 
these  sewings  and  fabrics  are  known  to  be 
in  strength,  texture,  and  durability  to  the 
foreign  articles;  and  that  we  earnestly  rec- 
ommend to'our  silk  manufacturers,  now  in 
the  infancy  of  our  enterprise,  to  set  a  good 
example  to  their  brethren  in  other  manufac- 
tures, by  attaching  their  own  name  to  their 
own  goods. 

20.  Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  our 
fellow-citizens   to  cherish,  by  their  patron- 
age, our  infant  silk  establishments.     In  this 
we  appeal  to  those  patriotic  feelings  which 
ever  glow  in  the  hearts  of  Americans,  ask- 
ing of  them  all  a  mutual  pledge,  each   to 
sustain  the  efforts  of  the  other,  in  the  pro- 
gressive   development    of   our    mighty   re- 
sources,  and    the    attainment  of   a  peffect 
National  Independence. 

21.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Con- 
vention be  presented  to  the  American  In- 
stitute,  for    the    appropriate    and   vigorous 
measures  they  are  now  taking   to  promote 
the  interests  of  the   silk  business  ;  for   the 
ample  accommodations  they  have  provided 
for  the  sessions  of  this  Convention ;  and  that 
they  be  respectfully  requested  to  call  anoth- 
er Convention,  similar  to  the  present,  during 
the  next  Annual  Fair  of  the  Institute. 

24.  Resolved,  That  those  who  are  now  en- 
gaged in  the  silk  business,  and  others  who 
may  engage  in  it  the  coming  season,  be  re- 
quested to  keep  as  full  a  record  of  all  their 
operations  as  may  be  convenient;  that  they 
be  requested  also  to  hold  county  or  other 
local  Conventions  throughout  the  country, 
gome  time  in  the  month  of  September  next, 
and  collect  these  records  as  extensively  as 


may  be,  and  forward  them  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Institute,  in  season  for  the  next  Con- 
vention. 

23.  Resolved,  That  the  Institute  be  also  re- 
quested  to  take  measures  to  procure,  as  soon 
as  may  be,  a  new  Silk  Manual,  adapted  to 
the  present  state  of  the  silk  culture. 

24.  Resolved,  That  the  doings  of  this  Con- 
vention, together  with  the  numerous  letters 
received  from  different  parts  of  the  country, 
be  submitted  to  the  American  Institute  for 
publication   in   the   form   of  a    Report ;  and 
that    I.  R.  Barbour,  of  Oxford,  Mass.,  be  a 
Committee  to  aid  the  Secretary  of  the  Insti- 
tute  in   arranging   the   documents   for   this 
purpose. 

Whereas,  The  facts  to  be  imbodied  in  the 
Report,  as  above  contemplated,  are  of  a 
highly  interesting  and  decisive  character, 
and  worthy  of  an  extended  distribution  — 
therefore, 

25.  Resolved,  That  every  member  of  this 
Convention  regard  himself  as  a  Committee 
to  obtain  subscriptions  for  the  same  as  ex- 
tensively  as   may   be,  it  being    understood 
that  each  subscriber  will  receive  Reports  at 
cost,  to  the  amount  of  his  subscription. 

26.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Con- 
vention be  presented  to  the  Conductors  of 
the  Public  Press  of  this  city,  and  to  the  Re- 
po/ters  at  our  tables,  who  have  so  promptly 
and  so  fully  spread  the  proceedings  of  this 
Convention   before   their  readers,   and   the 
country. 


JAMES  TALLMADGE,  President. 
JAMES  HARRISON,  )  Sf,retariKS 
JACOB  C.  PARSONS,  \  !>ecretartes' 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


OFFICIAL  LETTERS. 

STATE  DEPARTMENT,  ANNAPOLIS,  MD., 

September  22,  1843. 

Dear  Sir:  —  The  circular  communication 
of  the  "American  Institute,"  of  the  15th 
ultimo,  which  you  addressed  to  his  Excel- 
lency, the  Governor  of  Maryland,  owing  to 
his  temporary  absence  from  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment, did  not  reach  him  until  to-day. 
This  will  account  for  the  delay  in  answer- 
ing it. 

The  Governor  requests  me  to  inform  you, 
that   no  bounty  is  given  on  silk,  and  also 
that  there  are  no  legislative  enactments  re- 
specting it,  which  secure  to  the  treasury  any 
return  from  its  cultivation. 
I  am,  sir, 
With  high  respect,  yours, 

JNO.  C    LE  GRAND. 
T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq., 
Cor.  Sec.  of  American  Institute,  New  York. 

NEWARK,  N.  J.,  Aug.  21,  1843. 
Dear  Sir:  —  The  Court   of  Chancery    in 
this  State  sits  on  the  very  day  fixed  for  the 
Fair  of  the  American  Institute,  which  must 
deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of  being  with  you. 
There  was  a  bonus  for  one  year,  I  think 
1838,  on  silk.     The  amount  paid  that  year 
was  nominal,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars. 
I  remember  it  well,  for  it  was  made  a  party 
question  of,  and  repealed.     With  my  thanks 
for  your  polite  invitation,  I  remain, 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

WM.  PENNINGTON. 
T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq. 

TREASURER'S  OFFICE,  INDIANAPOLIS, 

September  9,  1843. 

Sir  :  —  In  reply  to  the  questions  contained 
in  your  Circular,  of  date  15th  August,  I  state, 

1.  That  our  State  gives  no  bounty  out  of 
the  State  treasury,  but,  by  an  act  of  last  win- 
ter,  has  authorized   the  Boards   of  County 
Commissioners  of  the  respective  counties  to 
give   a   bounty   of  15   cents   per  pound  for 
cocoons,  and  of  25  cents  per  pound  for  reeled 
silk. 

2.  The  law  above  referred  to  is  the  only 
one  that  has  been  passed  on  the  subject,  and 
has  no  limitation  as  to  time  of  its  continuance. 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  county  has  made 
provision  for  giving  bounties  as  above  con- 
templated. 

In  this  neighborhood,  and  in  several  other 
parts  of  this  State,  silk  has  been  produced  for 
2* 


several  years  past  —  Wayne  county,  I  under- 
stand, produces  the  most.  At  this  place  from 
forty  to  fifty  bushels  of  cocoons  have  been 
obtained  the  present  season.  In  this  town 
and  neighborhood  there  are  about  fifty  acres 
in  Morus  Multicaulis  trees,  from  two  to  three 
years  old. 

More  attention  would  be  given  to  the  busi- 
ness was  there  some  practical  and  experienced 
person  at  hand,  from  whom  information  as  to 
feeding  and  reeling  could  be  obtained. 

A  ready  market  for  cocoons  is  much  want- 
ed. The  Multicaulis  seems  to  stand  our 
winters  very  well.  Others,  who  have  had 
some  experience  on  this  subject,  will  cor- 
respond with  you,  and  give  such  further 
information  as  may  be  in  their  power. 

Yours,  &c., 
G.  H.  DUNN,  Treasurer  of  State. 

T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq. 

MADISON,  WISCONSIN, 
September  15,  1843. 

Sir :  —  I  am  favored  with  the  circular  letter 
of  the  American  Institute,  dated  the  15th  of 
August,  and  can  only  inform  you  in  reply, 
that  no  encouragement  is  given  by  the  laws 
of  this  Territory  to  the  production  of  silk. 
About  six  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk  has 
been  produced  by  one  gentleman,  who  took 
his  cocoons  to  Boston.  I  have  several  mul- 
berry-trees growing  in  my  garden  at  this 
place,  which  thrive,  and  were  not  affected  by 
the  frosts  of  last  winter.  It  is  the  opinion 
of  many  persons  with  whom  I  have  con- 
versed, and  who  appear  to  be  well-informed 
in  regard  to  it,  that  the  culture  of  silk  may 
be  prosecuted  to  great  advantage  in  the 
country  south  of  the  Neenah  and  Wisconsin 
Rivers. 

With  much  respect, 

I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  D.  DOTY. 
Mr.  T.  B.  Wakeman,  Cor.  Sec. 


TREASURER'S  OFFICE,  MONTPELIER,  VT., 
August  30,  1843. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowl- 
edge the  receipt  of  your  Circular  of  the  15th 
inst.,  addressed  to  his  Excellency,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Vermont,  and  make  the  following 
reply  to  the  interrogatories  therein  con- 
tained, viz. :  — 

1.  Our  Legislature,  at  their  session  Oc- 
tober, 1835,  granted  a  premium  often  cents 
per  pound  on  cocoons.  At  their  session 
October,  1838,  they  increased  the  premium 
to  twenty  cents  for  cocoons,  twenty  cents  for 
C 


18 


LETTERS. 


reeled  silk,  twenty  cents  for  all  wove  silk. 
This  law  still  remains  in  force.     The  amount 
of   premiums   paid    for  the   year   1835-6   I 
cannot  now  state,  the  books  of  this  depart- 
ment of  that  year  being  in  the  hands  of  the 
Auditor,  at  Woodstock  ;  the  amount,  how- 
ever, must  have  been  small. 
There  has  been  paid,  for  1837-38,      $36  52 
1838-39,        78  65 
1839-40,      360  71 
1840-41,     1830  39 
1841-42,    1891  17 
1842-43,    1756  69* 
Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  SPAULDING,  Treasurer. 


TREASURY  OFFICE,  BOSTON,  MASS., 
August  26,  1843. 

The  following  is  given  as  the  result  of  an 
examination  of  documents  in  this  Office,  in 
reply  to  certain  questions  proposed  by  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  American 
Institute,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  his  Ex- 
cellency, the  Governor,  viz. :  — 

1.  "  Dpes  your  State  give   a  bounty  on 
silk  ?  " 

2.  "  Is  the  bounty  on  cocoons,  or  on  reeled 
silk,  and  how  much  on  each  ?  " 

3.  "In  what  year  did  the  bounty  law  go 
into  effect,  and  when  does  it  expire  ?  " 

A  law  passed  April  7,  1835,  to  continue  in 
force  for  two  years,  gives  a  bounty  to  any 
person  who  shall  reel,  or  cause  to  be  reeled 
or  thrown,  in  the  Commonwealth,  from  co- 
coons produced  from  silk- worms  raised  there- 
in, merchantable  silk  capable  of  being  manu- 
factured into  the  various  silk  fabrics,  fifty 
cents  for  every  pound  of  silk  so  reeled  or 
thrown. 

A  law  passed  April  11,  1836,  to  continue 
in  force  seven  years,  gives  a  bounty  of  one 
dollar  for  every  ten  pounds  of  cocoons,  and  a 
bounty  of  one"  dollar  for  every  pound  of  silk 
reeled  and  thrown,  and  fifty  cents  for  every 
pound  reeled,  without  being  thrown. 

A  law  passed  March  31,  1839,  gives  a 
bounty  of  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  for  every 
ten  pounds  of  cocoons,  and  repeals  the  laws 
giving  a  bounty  of  fifty  cents  per  pound  for 
throwing  silk. 

Amount  paid  in  cash  each  year,  viz  : 

1836,  $71  37 

1837,  198 

1838,  350  52 

1839,  434  62 

1840,  1233  59 

1841,  2111  42 

1842,  3374  11 

1843,  1852  70 1 

*  The  current  year  closes  30th  Sept.,  which  wil 
probuhly  increase  the  amount. 

|  As  a  resident  of  Massachusetts,  I  would  say,  th;i 
the  last-named  sum,  $1852  70,  must  have  been  p;ii< 
upon  the  crop  of  ]84'2.  The  Treasurer's  books  show 
th«  amount  paid  each  calendar  year,  from  January  t 
January.  The  law  expired,  by  its  own  limitation,  i 
March,  1843,  and  this  sum  was  paid  between  Januar; 
1st  and  that  time,  and  of  course  on  the  crop  of  1842 
But,  for  the  same  reasons,  a  part  of  the  sum  ,-jiven  fo 
1842,  belongs  to  1841,  and  so  on.  I.  R.  B 


SECRETARY'S  OFFICE,  BOSTON, 

August  29,  1843. 

Sir:  —  By  direction  of  his  Excellency,  Gov- 
rnor  Morton,  I  forward  to  you  the  foregoing 
memorandum,  in  reply  to  your  Circular  ot 
August  loth, 

And  am  very  respectfully,  yours, 

JOHN  A.  BOLLES,  Secretary  of  State. 
T.  B.  Wakeman,  ESCJ., 
Cor.  Sec.  American  Institute,  New  York. 


•ETTERS  RECEIVED  BY  THE  CON- 
VENTION FROM  SILK-GROWERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS. 

IN  presenting  these  Letters,  the  Publishing 
Committee  offer  a  few  remarks  :  — 

1.  The  letters,  we  are  happy  to  say,  are 
so  numerous  and  full,  that  it  has  been  found 
necessary  to  throw  out  dates,  introductions, 
apologies,  conclusions,  &c.,  only  preserving 
the  substance  of  each  letter ;  allowing,  how- 
ever, each  correspondent  to   tell   his   own 
story,  in  his  own  way,  and,  as  far  as  possible, 

n  his  own  words.  But  those  received  from 
State  Treasurers  in  regard  to  bounty  laws  on 
silk  are  given  entire  ;  and  our  only  regret  is, 
that  we  could  not  hear  from  all  the  States 
on  the  subject,  in  the  same  official  way. 

2.  In  the  arrangement,  we  give  the  official 
letters  first,  then  those  relating  to  silk-grow- 
ing, and  throw  those  received  from  manu- 
facturers together  at  the  close. 

3.  A  part  of  these  letters  were  addressed 
to  the  Trustees  of  the  American  Institute,  a 
part  to  the  New  England  Silk  Convention, 
and  a  very  few  to  individuals.     But  they  are 
all  thrown  into  a  common  lot. 

4.  The  reader  will  perceive  quite  opposite 
sentiments  expressed  in  these  letters,  in  re- 
gard to  some  points.     It  would  be  just  so,  if 
150  or  200  farmers  should  undertake  to  give 
similar  statements  respecting  their  corn  crops. 
Considering  how  new  the  silk  business  is,  and 
how  experimental  all  our  operations  hitherto 
have  been,  it  is  to  me  a  matter  of  wonder  and 
delight  to  see  such  a  measure  of  agreement 
on  all  essential  points.     It  shows  the  close 
attention,  and  the  careful  discrimination,  that 
have  been  employed  in  the  business. 

5.  The  letters  were  too  numerous  to  be 
read,  in  the  brief  time  the  Convention  were 
in  session,  and  quite  a  number  hare  been 
received   since   its  adjournment.     Some  of 
these  letters  contained  specimens  of  manu- 


LETTERS. 


factored  silk,  vestings,  ladies'  dresses,  &c., 
designed  for  the  exhibitions  of  the  Fair ;  and 
as  they  did  not  reach  the  city  in  time  for  this 
purpose,  they  have  all  fallen,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  into  my  hands.  I  have  carefully  put 
them  all  into  a  book,  suitable  for  the  pocket, 
provided  for  the  purpose,  with  the  manufac- 
turer's name  attached  to  each  specimen. 
Hundreds  of  eyes  will  see  and  admire  them. 

6.  The  questions  propounded  by  the  Trus- 
tees of  the  Institute  are  given  in  full  in  the 
Circular  on  the  first  pages  of  this   Report. 
Some  of  the  letters  will    be    unintelligible 
without  referring  to  these  questions. 

7.  Every  silk-grower  will  be  greatly  inter- 
ested and  benefited  by  carefully  reading  and 
studying  these  letters.     He  will  get  many 
new  ideas.     The  beginner  should  read  them 
in  like  manner,  and  then  select  one  of  the  best 
owes,  and  follow  it  out  carefully  and  fully.    I 
recommend  this  as  the  safest  course  in  all 
such  cases.     Too  many  teachers  will  spoil 
any  experiment 

8.  From  these  letters  one  thing  is  very 
manifest,  and  that  is,  that  the  silk  business  is 
extending  throughout  all  our  States  —  that  it 
is   assuming  —  has    already   assumed  —  the 
character  of  a  regular  business  in  this  country. 
All  the  elementary  questions  upon  which  it 
is  based  appear  to  be  settled,  and  there  now 
remains  nothing  to  forbid  its  wide  extension 
as  rapidly  as  correct  information  respecting 
it  can  be  diffused. 

9.  Another  thought  will  strike  the  casual 
reader  of  these    letters.      It  is  that  almost 
every  body  has  invented  a  reel,  or  a  twister, 
or  something  else  connected   with  the  silk 
business.     Some,  of  course,  must  be  disap- 
pointed, for  all  cannot  be  best.     But  the  case 
shows  that  there  has  been,  in  connection  with 
this  business,  a  vast  amount  of  thought  and 
invention  brought  into  activity  —  the    same 
as  in  all  other  departments  of  American  labor. 

I.  R.  BARBOUR. 


LETTERS . 

TIMOTHY  WHEELRIGHT,  Wells,  Maine.  — 
Wishing  to  learn  how  to  manage  the  worm, 
I  began  to  feed  as  soon  as  I  set  my  trees,  and 
have  fed  five  seasons  with  this  result :  —  first 
year,  1  Ib.  cocoons  ;  second  year,  6  Ibs. ;  third 
year,  27  Ibs. ;  fourth  year,  34  Ibs. ;  cocoons 
of  the  first  crop,  240  to  the  Ib. ;  second,  312 
to  the  Ib. ;  this  year,  not  yet  through.  I  es- 
timate the  expense  at  ten  cents  a  pound. 


Trees  not  injured  by  the  winter  after  the  first 
year.  The  building  I  use  for  a  cocoonery  is 
about  18  by  24  feet,  posts  8  feet,  and  as  open 
as  our  common  barns,  the  floor  very  open,  no> 
floor  overhead,  but  well  shingled,  with  win- 
dows at  the  sides  and  ends  that  were  always 
kept  partly  open.  I  conclude  it  to  be  about 
as  open  a  shelter  as  the  tent  of  Mr.  Gill,  of 
Ohio.  I  make  no  use  of  artificial  heat  or  lime 
in  any  age  of  the  worms,  but  rely  on  clean- 
liness ;  never  feed  with  wet  leaves,  and  my 
worms  are  always  healthy.  My  shelves  for 
feeding  are  of  the  most  simple  construction  — 
rough  boards  placed  on  hanging  ladders,  se- 
cured from  ants,  and  covered  with  newspa- 
pers". I  have  just  gathered  one  crop  of  cocoons, 
and  find  them  to  be  very  nice.  I  saved  some 
for  seed  which  I  counted :  they  were  260  to 
the  pound.  I  reeled  one,  singly,  to  ascertain 
the  length  of  thread  one  worm  spins.  •  I  reel- 
ed off  680  yards  before  the  thread  broke.  1 
should  judge  there  were  150  yards  left.  The 
crop  of  worms  I  have  gathered  were  hatched 
the  28th  of  June,  and  it  was  36  days  before 
they  began  to  rise  to  spin,  which  I  attribute 
to  the  coldness  of  the  season.  Perhaps  artifi- 
cial heat  for  the  coldest  of  the  weather  would 
have  quickened  them  five  or  six  days,  but 
there  could  have  been  no  more  gain,  except 
there  was  more  silk  from  the  same  quantity 
of  leaves.  I  have  two  other  crops  (Aug.  20) 
yet  to  spin,  which  appear  to  be  very  healthy. 
To  conclude,  it  is  my  opinion  that  a  tent 
which  will  keep  the  worms  dry,  in  our  climate, 
is  a  sufficient  shelter  for  the  worms,  and  if 
our  cheap  factory  cottons  will  answer  for  such 
tents,  the  saving,  in  comparison  to  building, 
will  be  very  great  indeed. 

MR.  SMITH,  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  has  made, 
the  past  season,  70  bushels  good  cocoons.  He 
decidedly  prefers  Mr.  Gill's  system  of  shed 
or  tent,  and  cradle  feeding. 

JOHN  ZANE,  Martinville,  Ohio,  has  fed,  this 
season,  57  bushels  of  cocoons,  all  pea-nuts; 
thinks  very  highly  of  Mr.  Gill's  shed  and 
cradle, —  is  confident  that  this  system  reduces 
expenses  one  half,  and  increases  the  quantity 
and  the  quality  of  the  crop. 

JOHN  McSuMMv,  Manheim,  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  says  :  —  Your  Convention  was  un- 
known to  me  until  this  day,  too  late  for  me 
to  attend.  I  am  sorry,  as  I  have  over  100 
Ibs.  of  well-reeled  silk  (from  10  to  20  fibres) 
of  this  year's  crop,  which  I  should  like  to 
take  on  to  New  York  to  sell,  besides  attend 
the  Convention.  I  have  more  yet  to  reel. 
There  is  much  silk  raised  in  this  county.  We 
have  suffered  for  want  of  good  reelers.  I 
have  now  surmounted  this  difficulty,  as  well 
as  other  difficulties  in  raising  silk,  and  expe- 
rience both  pleasure  and  profit  in  the  busi- 
ness. I  should  be  very  glad  to  receive  orders 
from  manufacturers  for  my  silk  now  reeled, 
or  I  will  reel  to  order. 

I  began  in  the  silk  business  in  1839,  and 
have  increased  as  follows :  — 


LETTERS. 


1839,  made  40  Ibs.  cocoons. 

1840,  "  165  "        " 

1841,  "  534  "        " 
'  1842,     "               856  "        " 

1843,  "nearly  1800  "  " 
I  have  used  different  kinds  of  leaves,  but 
never  found  any  difference  where  the  trees 
were  cultivated  alike.  They  must  be  culti- 
vated and  kept  clean,  otherwise  it  is  useless 
to  try  to  make  silk.  It  is  also  useless  to  try 
to  feed  after  harvest,  where  the  old  leaves 
have  not  been  taken  off  the  early  part  of  the 


I  have  fed  for  two  seasons  out  of  doors,  in 
open  shantecs,  after  the  worms  had  passed  the 
third  moulting,  and  led  altogether  on  branch- 
es. It  is  a  very  great  saving  of  expense  and 
labor. 

JAMES  HAMILTON,  2n,  Bridport,  Addlson 
Co.,  Vt. —  Sir  :  — It  is  four  years  since  I  com- 
menced feeding  worms.  The  first  year  had 
but  few,  fed  them  in  a  tight  chamber  before 
an  open  window,  did  well.  The  next  year 
fed  many  more  in  the  same  chamber,  but  not 
with  as  good  success.  The  third  and  fourth 
seasons  I  fed  in  my  corn-house,  with  a  door 
open  at  each  end,  which  gave  a  free  circula- 
tion of  air,  closing  them  only  in  cool  weather, 
or  in  case  of  high  winds. 

At  one  time,  in  a  very  heavy  shower,  with 
high  wind,  the  doors  and  windows  were  open, 
and  the  shelf  of  pea-nuts  near  the  windows 
was  completely  drenched  in  the  torrent,  and 
I  thought  lost.  As  the  water  drained  off, 
however,  they  revived,  fresh  leaves  were 
given  them,  and  they  came  forth  with  renew- 
ed vigor.  We  have  not  had  any  trouble  with 
diseased  worms  since  we  commenced  feeding 
in  the  corn-house. 

As  to  the  variety  of  worms,  I  should  prefer 
the  pea-nuts  and  sulphur  for  beauty  and  tex- 
ture, but  the  orange  for  weight.  I  feed  on 
the  white  mulberry  and  the  multicaulis. 

DR.  JOEL  RICE,  Bridport,  Addison  Co.,  Vt. 
—  Sir  :  — In  the  spring  of  1839  several  indi- 
viduals of  us  in  this  town  were  induced  to 
engage  moderately  in  the  mulberry  specula- 
tion, and  as  in  most  other  cases,  our  expecta- 
tions of  profit  from  the  sale  of  trees  were  cut 
off;  but  we  did  not  therefore  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  trees  were  worthless,  but 
have  continued  to  propagate  them  to  some 
extent,  with  the  expectation  that  silk  would 
ere  long  become  an  important  staple  of  our 
country,  with  an  adequate  protection  by  our 
government. 

We  have  fed  worms  four  years,  mostly  on 
a  small  scale,  —  two  individuals  have  made 
about  50  Ibs.  cocoons  the  past  season,  —  have 
generally  fed  in  rooms  too  confined, —  two  or 
three  persons  have  used  buildings  for  feeding 
that  were  well  ventilated,  and  have  succeeded 
better ;  worms  more  healthy  and  cocoons 
larger.  We  use  mostly  the  multicaulis  ;  those 
that  we  design  to  plant  the  next  season  we 
take  up  in  fall,  put  them  in  sand  in  the  cellar, 
or  bury  them  in  the  field  ;  those  that  we  wish 
to  make  permanent  trees  we  let  stand.  I 


have  multicaulis-trees  which  have  stood  three 
winters,  have  greatly  increased  in  their  foli- 
age every  season,  and  appear  to  endure  the 
frosts  as  well  as  the  Alpine  or  Italian. 

We  have  fed  early  and  late,  and  have  suc- 
ceeded much  better  with  the  former. 

We  have  had  no  experience  in  the  manu- 
facture of  silk,  except  sewing  silk ;  in  this  we 
have  succeeded  tolerably  well.  We  have  as 
yet  had  no  apparatus  but  that  in  common 
domestic  use. 

The  names  of  those  who  are  cultivating 
the  mulberry  in  this  town  are  —  Rev.  Dana 
Lamb,  Messrs.  Luther  Ferre,  Royal  Gay,  Asa 
Rice,  Henry  Jones,  Jonas  Rice,  Josiah  Bar- 
rows, James  Hamilton,  2d,  Gordon  Searl,  and 
George  Gale,  and  we  hope  soon  to  enlist 
manv  others  in  an  enterprise  which  we  con- 
sider feasible,  and  one  that  will  result  in  a 
profitable  and  permanent  branch  of  American 
industry. 

A.  C.  VAN  EPPS,  Auburn,  JV.  Y.  —  I  en- 
gaged a  cocoonery  in  ]842.  A  gentleman 
here  had  a  quantity  of  eggs,  saved  by  himself 
in  1841,  from  eggs  sent  him  by  his  son,  Rev. 
Mr.  Pease,  missionary  to  Cyprus,  consisting 
of  the  following  varieties,  namely  :  —  Broosa, 
Lapithas,and  Paphos  —  considered  among  the 
best  ever  introduced  in  this  country.  I  knew 
them  to  be  from  healthy  stock,  and  supposed 
my  prospect  good.  I  called  on  him  early  in 
June  —  and  found  them  in  a  close  box  in  his 
cellar,  and  on  opening  found  all  hatched  or 
nearly  so.  In  my  ignorance  I  considered  this 
a  favorable  commencement.  I  took  over  30 
ounces,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  business 
of  feeding.  The  result  any  novice  can  guess. 
Disease  raged  from  the  beginning  ;  and  in 
the  end,  I  had  no  silk.  I  visited  a  silk-grower 
in  the  country,  and  got  from  him  a  few  choice 
cocoons,  from  which  I  saved,  perhaps,  one 
sixth  of  an  ounce  of  eggs.  These  I  fed  dur- 
ing the  present  season  with  perfect  success, 
and  have  saved  over  two  pounds  of  eggs  —  no 
appearance  of  sickness  was  visible.  The 
worms  grew  very  large,  and  the  cocoons  ex- 
ceeded, in  beauty  and  quality,  any  I  have 
ever  seen.  The  first  year  was  attended  with 
several  hundred  dollars'  expense,  and  this  with 
none.  The  first  season  I  fed  in  a  large  two- 
story  cocoonery.  This  year  I  fed  in  a  small 
barn  —  sawed  off  the  boards  part  of  the  way 
roupd,  and  with  the  doors  open  most  of  the 
time.  The  worms  were  as  well  supplied  with 
air,  as  they  would  have  been  on  the  tree.  I 
placed  a  quantity  of  eggs  on  the  trees,  which 
hatched  and  grew  finely  until  the  third  moult- 
ing, when  the  birds  took  them  all. 

I  shall  use  multicaulis  in  my  future  feeding 
—  shall  plant  them  in  the  best  soil,  about  five 
feet  apart  —  and  cultivate  them  with  as  much 
care  as  a  crop  of  corn.  I  should  commence 
feeding  in  April,  if  leaves  could  be  procured 
so  early  —  for  I  should  be  very  unwilling  to 
retard  the  hatching  process  of  the  egg.  A 
friend  of  mine  has  been  feeding  a  few  worms 
for  three  or  four  years  past  with  entire  fail- 
ures—  or  results  similar  to  my  first  year. 
This  season, he  extended  an  awning  in  front  of 


LETTERS. 


a  shed  in  which  he  fed,  and  placed  in  it  one 
of  Mr.  Gill's  Cradles ;  but  he  was  so  afraid 
the  "poor  creatures"  would  be  "too  much 
exposed,"  he  boarded  the  sides  up  to  the 
awning,  and  thus  completely  destroyed  the 
experiment.  Personal  experience,  in  this 
business,  teaches  a  dear  sckool ;  but  it  seems 
that  some  of  us  will  profit  by  no  other, 

HON.  WM.  WOODB  RIDGE,  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan. —  I  am  honored  by  the  printed  commu- 
nication you  were  pleased  to  transmit  to  me, 
on  the  part  of  the  managers  of  the  American 
Institute,  relative  especially  to  the  culture 
and  manufacture  of  silk.  I  am  sorry  that  it 
is  not  in  my  power,  individually,  to  add  any 
thing  to  the  general  fund  of  information 
which,  so  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  coun- 
try, the  Institute  is  collecting  relatively  to 
this  subject.  I  do  not  hesitate,  however,  in 
expressing  the  opinion,  —  imperfect  as  may 
be  the  data  upon  which  that  opinion  rests,  — 
that  complete  success  will  ultimately  crown 
the  efforts  of  those  who  are  now  so  patrioti- 
cally seeking  to  introduce  among  us  the  cul- 
ture and  manufacture  of  silk.  The  almost 
infinite  variety  of  soil,  climate,  and  aspect, 
which  the  broad  surface  of  our  immense  and 
fertile  country  exhibits,  cannot,  I  think,  leave 
a  doubt  upon  the  minds  of  our  intelligent 
citizens,  but  that,  with  a  steady  and  reasona- 
ble protection  on  the  part  of  government, 
these  efforts  must  succeed  —  and  to  the  im- 
measurable benefit,  ultimately,  of  the  nation. 
The  peninsula  of  Michigan  is  hardly  yet  suf- 
ficiently reclaimed  from  its  wilderness  state 
to  have  furnished  any  experiments  of  a  con- 
clusive character ;  and  yet  I  have  understood 
that  some  individuals  among  our  farming 
citizens  have  turned  their  attention  and  ef- 
forts to  this  object,  with  very  flattering  re- 
sults, so  far ;  and,  with  a  view  to  encourage 
and  fix  still  more  the  attention  of  our  agri- 
culturists here  to  the  subject,  I  this  day  send 
your  printed  communication,  together  with 
the  beautiful  specimen  of  sewing-silk  which 
was  contained  in  it,  to  the  "  Washtenaw  Ag- 
ricultural Society,"  of  which  the  place  of 
meeting  is  at  "  Ann  Arbor,"  some  forty  miles 
in  the  interior  ;  near  which  place  one  of  our 
enterprising  fellow-citizens  has  already  pro- 
duced some  beautiful  specimens  of  silk, 
which  he  has  himself  grown. 

[With  great  pleasure,  we  give  room  for  the 
following  neat  little  case,  from  a  young  girl, 
13  to  14  years  old.  I.  R.  B.] 

Miss  ANGELA  A.  BRYANT,  Mansfield,  Mass. 
—  My  father,  who  had  the  pleasure  of  con- 
versing with  you  on  board  the  Cleopatra,  in- 
forms me  that  you  wish  to  collect  as  full  an 
account  of  the  silk  culture  as  possible,  in- 
cluding the  smallest  essays,  and  mine  is 
such. 

Summer  before  last  I  had  given  to  me  40 
young  silk- worms.  From  the  eggs  procured 
in  this  way  I  had,  last  summer,  between  5 
and  600  worms,  which  I  fed  mostly  on  the 
white  mulberry.  I  lost  but  few  by  disease. 
They  were  fed  five  times  a  day,  and  the  litter 


was  removed  every  other  day  by  taking 
them  in  the  hand  and  placing  them  on  fresh 
leaves.  At  30  days  of  age  they  began  to 
spin.  There  was  much  irregularity  in  the 
time  of  winding.  From  my  600  worms  I 
raised  5  pints  of  cocoons,  which  1  sent  to  Mr. 
Hewins,  of  Foxborough,  Mass.  The  prod- 
uct was  18  skeins  of  sewing-silk.  Of  the 
expenses  I  can  say  nothing,  but  I  derived  a 
great  deal  of  pleasure  from  the  care  of  my 
beautiful  spinners. 

DR.  JOEL  BARBER,  Orwell,  Rutland  Coun- 
ty, Vt.  —  I  have  fed  a  few  worms,  each  year, 
for  the  last  five  years.  I  have  kept  my  worms 
in  my  chamber,  without  any  attention  to  tem- 
perature, except  closing  the  windows  in  damp 
and  cold  weather.  My  worms  have  been  in- 
variably healthy.  I  think  the  bounty  in  this 
State  will  pay  the  expense  of  feeding.  We 
have  manufactured  our  cocoons  into  sewing- 
silk  and  twist,  with  a  common  reel  and 
wheel.  The  silk,  for  beauty  and  strength,  is 
equal  to  Italian. 

Last  spring  I  laid  down  several  thousand 
trees,  with  a  view  of  doing  business  on  a 
larger  scale.  The  Alpine,  Broosa,  and  Ital- 
ian varieties  flourish  in  this  State.  The  mul- 
ticaulis cannot  be  got  forward  in  season  to 
get  a  crop  so  early.  I  put  out  my  eggs  to 
hatch  as  soon  as  the  trees  begin  to  leave  out. 
The  business  is  increasing  in  this  vicinity. 
Israel  Smith,  Esq.,  of  this  town,  has  seven 
acres  covered  with  beautiful  trees.  He  has 
commenced  feeding,  this  season,  with  good 
success.  Others  have  raised  from  5  to  100 
Ibs.  cocoons.  Confidence  in  the  success  of 
the  business  is  increasing  from  year  to  year. 

CLINTON  S.  FAY,  (late  of  the  N.  Y.  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Institute,)  Salem  Cross  Roads^ 
Chat.  Co.,  N.  Y.  —  i  thank  you  for  the  An- 
nual Report  of  the  New  England  Silk  Con- 
vention that  you  sent  me  last  spring.  I  have 
been  engaged  for  eight  years  in  the  business 
of  growing  silk.  I  commence  feeding  worms 
in  the  early  part  of  the  season.  I  have  used 
no  artificial  heat ;  kept  them  in  an  out-house, 
where  they  had  plenty  of  fresh  air,  and  they 
were  healthy.  I  fed  a  few  thousand  worms 
on  the  multicaulis,  and  some  on  the  white 
mulberry  at  the  same  time.  Those  fed  on 
the  white  mulberry  were  large  and  healthy, 
measuring  most  of  them  3£  inches  in  length, 
when  full  grown,  and  make  good  cocoons ; 
while  those  fed  on  the  multicaulis  were  of  an 
inferior  size,  making  lighter  cocoons  than 
those  fed  on  the  white  mulberry ;  weighed  2£ 
pounds,  while  the  same  number  made  by 
those  fed  on  the  multicaulis  only  2  pounds. 
I  think  that  the  white  mulberry  is  the  best ; 
there  is  more  substance  in  the  leaves  than  in 
the  multicaulis.  [Our  friend  does  not  tell  us 
whether  the  multicaulis  leaves,  in  the  above 
experiment,  were  equally  ripe. —  1.  R.  B.] 

F.LEONARD,  Watcrtovm, JV.  Y.  —  1  hatched 
a  crop  of  pea- nut  silk- worms  the  1st  of 
July,  which  were  kept  till  after  their  second 
moulting  in  an  airy  room,  and  then  put  into 


LETTERS. 


a  barn  which  had  been  removed  from  its  old 
location.  In  this  barn  they  had  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air  either  with  or  without  the  doors 
being  shut.  The  worms  did  well  till  after 
fourth  moulting,  when  some  turned  yellow 
and  died  —  loss  at  k-ast  20  per  cent.  A  lot 
of  worms,  fed  by  a  lady,  (Mrs.  Fairbanks,  of 
Le  KoyJ  near  me,  from  the  same  eggs,  are 
the  finest  I  ever  saw.  Yet  she  too  sustained 
a  small  loss  from  same  disease.  She  states 
that  a  few  worms,  looking  so  bad  that  she 
considered  them  lost,  she  threw  them  into 
the  garden,  and  there  fed  them  ;  and  a  great 
portion  of  them  recovered  and  made  cocoons 
in  the  grass. 

DAVID  W.  DEXTER,  Claremont,  JV.  H .  —  I 
regret  much  that  I  am  not  able  to  meet  my 
friends,  the  silk-growers  of  the  country,  in 
Convention;  but  unforeseen  circumstances 
have  rendered  my  absence  unavoidable.  I 
confidently  believe  that  these  two  Conven- 
tions, at  Northampton  and  New  York,  will 
spread  before  the  public  so  much  practical 
experience,  and  such  profitable  results,  that 
the  last  lingering  doubts  of  the  most  preju- 
diced and  disappointed  multicaulis  specula- 
tor must  be  removed  ;  and  that  they,  and  all 
others  who  have  looked  upon  the  persever- 
ing silk-grower  with  contempt,  will  be  com- 
pelled to  admit  that  we  have  not  been  chasing 
shadows ;  that  the  culture  and  manufacture 
of  silk  is  altogether  feasible,  and  will  be  a 
source  of  wealth  to  this  nation.  In  regard  to 
the  results  of  my  own  experience,  am  una- 
ble to  give  any  statistical  statements. 

From  five  years'  experience,  I  have  come 
to  the  full  conclusion  that  open  or  tent-feed- 
ing is  the  only  way  that  we  can  raise  silk 
successfully.  My  cocoonery  is  106  feet  by 
25,  with  20  windows,  3  ventilators  in  the 
roof,  and  a  number  in  the  floor.  This  sea- 
son I  have  taken  out  the  windows,  and  left 
open  the  ventilators  day  and  night,  and  with 
admirable  success.  It  is  the  pure  air  of 
heaven  that  is  needed,  and  the  more  the  bet- 
ter ;  and  I  think,  sir,  that  we  had  better  turn 
our  whole  attention  to  the  raising  of  one 
crop,  which  in  our  latitude  should  be  secured 
up  by  the  1st  of  Sept. 

SAML.  C.  MOORE,  Georgetown,  Mass.  —  I 
send  you  a  sample  of  the  silk  I  raised  this 
year,  reeled  on  a  common  silk-reel,  and 
spun  on  a  common  spinning-wheel.  I  re- 
ceived for  my  silk  and  cocoons,  at  the  Essex 
Co.  cattle  show  at  Andover,  $8.00,  as  a  gra- 
tuity ;  by  mistake  printed  as  for  Amos  P. 
Dodge.  The  quantity  I  shall  have  cannot 
yet  tell,  as  it  is  not  all  reeled.  My  worms 
did  very  well. 

I  think  the  friends  of  the  cause  have  great 
reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on  the 
present  aspects  of  the  silk  business.  New 
England  can  grow  silk.  We  can  easily  be- 
come, in  a  few  years,  exporters  of  this  rich 
and  beautiful  article.  I  am  glad  our  people 
are  beginning  to  see  that  it  is  bad  policy  to 
send  our  money  abroad  for  an  article  which 
we  can  just  as  well  grow  and  manufacture 


ourselves.  Another  thing :  the  western  rail- 
road now  opens  all  the  great  markets  of  New 
England  to  the  agricultural  products  of  the 
rich  and  boundless  West,  so  that  all  our 
products  are  now  low,  and  likely  to  remain 
so.  New  England  farmers,  therefore,  must 
take  up  something  new ;  something  with 
which  the  market  cannot  be  glutted.  That 
silk  is  that  thing,  there  is  not,  in  my  mind,  a 
question. 

HON.  LEVI  WOODBURY,  Portsmouth,  JV.  H. 
—  I  am  not  a  silk-grower,  and  therefore  am 
not  able  to  answer  the  inquiries  put  by  you  ; 
neither  do  I  manufacture  any,  but  I  have 
taken  some  interest  in  both,  and  have  some 
mulberry-trees  grown,  with  a  view,  when 
leisure  may  permit,  to  attempt  rearing  the 
silk-worm  on  a  small  scale,  requiring  no  great 
outlay  of  capital,  and  employing  the  aged, 
infirm,  and  youth  chiefly  in  the  work.  1 
have  for  some  years  believed  the  business 
would  prove  profitable. 

My  thanks  for  the  specimen  of  sewing- 
silk  sent  me,  and  your  polite  invitation  to  at- 
tend the  anniversary  of  the  Institute,  which 
previous  engagements  must  prevent. 

D.  B.  BLAKESLEY,  Newark,  Wayne  Co., 
JV.  F.  —  I  am  a  silk-grower,  and  feel  a  deep 
interest  in  the  enterprise.  1  send  you  a  brief 
statement  of  my  experience  in  the  business. 
(1.)  I  have  fed  silk-worms  three  years;  the 
first  year  I  failed  for  want  of  sufficient  ven- 
tilation ;  from  two  ounces  eggs  well  hatched, 
(pea-nut  variety,)  4£  bushels  cocoons.  Sec- 
ond year,  summer  of  1842,  my  success  was 
triumphant ;  from  four  ounces  eggs  (common 
sulphur)  the  product  was  33  bushels  superior 
cocoons.  The  third  year,  viz.,  the  past  sum- 
mer, I  have  failed  almost  entirely  —  from  six 
ounces  eggs  (both  pea-nut  and  sulphur)  the 
product  was  15|  bushels  very  poor  cocoons. 
(2.)  My  cocoonery  is  in  an  upper  room  in  a 
building  163  feet  long  and  40  feet  wide  ;  the 
lower  part  is  used  for  horses  to  stand  under 
during  church  service  on  Sunday.  Last  spring 
a  hen-house  (which  I  could  not  prevent)  was 
built  in  one  end  of  the  lower  part  of  the  build- 
ing and  directly  under  my  cocoonery  ;  the 
hen-house  is  30  by  40  feet;  hens  to  the 
amount  of  two  to  three  hundred  have  been 
kept  there  all  summer,  and  I  have  conse- 
quently not  had  a  breath  of  pure  air  in  my 
cocoonery  during  the  season ;  the  stench 
arising  from  the  hen-roost,  at  particular  times, 
was  almost  suffocating.  My  worms  were 
managed  this  year  precisely  the  same  as  last, 
by  the  same  persons,  and  fed  from  the  same 
trees.  Several  of  my  neighbors  have  en- 
gaged in  feeding  worms  this  year,  and  all 
have  been  very  successful,  and  had  their 
eggs  of  me.  I  am  unable  to  account  for  my 
failure  in  any  other  way  than  by  the  infected 
air  from  the  hen-house.  My  last  parcel  of 
worms,  at  the  age  of  two  weeks,  which  were 
very  unhealthy  and  dying  rapidly,  I  gave  to 
a  neighbor,  who  removed  them  into  his  own 
laboratory,  and  in  48  hours  they  had  stopped 
dying,  revived,  and  have  done  well  ever 


LETTERS. 


23 


since,  and  are  now  winding.  I  have  com- 
mon stoves,  but  have  not  resorted  to  artifi- 
cial heat  but  very  little  at  any  time;  when- 
ever 1  have,  I  have  endeavored  to  keep  the 
temperature  up  to  75  degrees  Fahrenheit. 
(3.)  .  ave  never  fed  in  open  sheds  or  tent. 
^  i.)  I  prefer  the  orange  pea-nut  to  any  I  am 
acquainted  with.  (5.)  I  use  the  multicaulis, 
and  no  other  ;  I  care  not  how  they  are  plant- 
ed, whether  in  cuttings  or  whole  trees  ;  cut 
oil'  the  tops  close  to  the  ground  in  the  fall,  if 
they  are  to  be  preserved  for  planting  ;  if  not, 
1  do  it  early  in  the  spring.  .The  same  quan- 
tity of  ground  will  produce  more  foliage, 
managed  in  that  way,  than  to  let  the  trees 
stand.  ((>.)  I  have  had  as  good  success  in 
late  feeding  as  early ;  my  experience  has 
taught  me  no  difference.  (7.)  The  failures 
in  feeding  that  have  come  under  my  observa- 
tion, in  a  proportion  of  99  to  100,  have  been 
for  want  of  sufficient  ventilation.  I  have 
used  the  mulberry-leaf  for  no  other  purpose 
than  feeding  worms  and  milch  cows,  and 
neither  have  I  tried  any  experiments  to  get 
the  bark  off  the  tree.  From  all  my  expe- 
rience and  observation,  I  think  we  have 
abundant  encouragement  in  this  most  noble 
of  all  American  enterprises. 

TITUS  BROWN,  Franccstown,  JV.  H.  —  I 
want  your  Report.  I  cannot  truly  call  my- 
self a  silk-grower,  except  it  be  in  anticipation. 
It  is  my  intention,  at  a  future,  and  not  a  dis- 
tant day,  to  engage  in  the  business.  I  am, 
for  that  purpose,  cultivating  a  considerable 
quantity  of  the  multicaulis  mulberry,  and 
shall  next  year  increase  the  number  of  my 
trees  as  much  as  possible.  Some  of  my 
neighbors  laugh  at  me,  but  I  am  not  discour- 
aged. I  believe  the  business,  when  fairly 
established,  will  afford  as  rich  a  return  for 
the  capital  and  labor  employed  as  any  of  the 
ordinary  branches  of  business  in  which  men 
engage.  With  such  a  result,  those  who  go 
into  it  should  be  satisfied. 

ROBERT  SINCLAIR,  Clairmont  Nurse ry,  near 
Baltimore.  —  I  have  not  been  engaged  in 
manufacturing  silk,  but,  having  a  large  stock 
of  multicaulis  and  other  mulberry-trees,  I 
built  a  house,  42  by  30  feet,  two  stories  high, 
both  stories  and  garret  well  shelved,  with  a 
suitable  cellar  to  preserve  and  cut  the  leaves 
in.  In  1841,  I  had  83  bushels  of  cocoons 
raised  in  it  —  sulphur  and  pea-nut,  mostly 
the  former.  In  1842,  1  let  the  house  and 
trees  to  a  person  on  shares,  who  made  about 
16  pounds  of  reeled  silk,  and  upwards  of  100 
ounces  of  pea-nut  eggs.  The  present  season 
I  managed  it  mostly  myself,  but,  owing  to 
many  other  engagements,  I  made  only  one 
crop,  amounting  to  34  bushels  of  pea-nut  co- 
coons, which  was  as  many  as  the  house  would 
hold  at  one  time.  To  regulate  the  tempera- 
ture, I  have  a  small  tight  room  in  the  cellar, 
with  a  stove  in  it,  which  enables  the  mana- 
ger to  warm  the  house,  by  means  of  suitable 
conductors  to  convey  the  heated  air  into  the 
d  fferent  parts;  but  I  find,  in  our  climate, 
this  trouble  and  expense  may  be  avoided,  by 


commencing  about  the  first  of  the  6th  month, 
after  the  chilly,  damp  weather  is  past.  My 
glass  windows  are  in  one  frame,  and  hinged 
so  as  to  open  or  shut  as  the  weather  requires; 
and  also  Venetian  shutters,  so  constructed 
that  each  slat,  working  on  its  own  pivot,  can 
instantly  be  changed  from  the  broad  side  to 
its  edge  only  to  the  light,  admitting  or  ex- 
cluding light,  and  air,  and  heat  —  which  I 
find  very  convenient.  *  I  prefer  the  pea-nut, 
and  the  multicaulis  to  feed  with ;  1  think 
the  wfcite  Italian  equally  good,  but  the  tedi- 
ous gathering  is  a  serious  objection.  1  think 
it  best  to  cut  the  leaves  very  fine  until  ai'ter 
their  second  moulting,  then,  to  save  tune  and 
expense,  feed  with  branches.  When  ready 
to  spin,  it  is  best  to  remove  them  to  clean 
shelves,  and  feed  them  plentifully  with 
leaves.  If  cut,  it  will  be  better,  all  which 
will  prevent  their  becoming  sickly,  and  spin- 
ning in  their  own  dirt ;  this  is  the  period  in 
which  most  failures  occur,  and  may  be  easi- 
ly presented  by  a  little  extra  attention  for 
about  a  week,  and  the  profit  and  success 
much  depends  upon  it.  At  the  second 
moulting  I  have  observed  that  only  one 
half,  or  two  thirds,  moult  the  first  day,  and 
the  balance  the  next  day.  I  find  it  much 
best,  and  saves  trouble  afterwards,  to  keep 
these  separate.  My  other  engagements  are 
such,  together  with  advanced  age,  as  will 
prevent  me  pursuing  it  farther.  I  would 
rent  the  house,  fixtures,  and  trees,  on  mod- 
erate terms. 

P.  S.  I  found  but  little  difficulty  in  rais- 
ing good  silk-  the  first  season,  without  any 
previous  experience  ;  and  it  may  be  raised 
to  good  profit,  if  manufacturers  will  continue 
to  give  four  dollars  per  bushel  for  good 
cocoons ;  and  it  is  well  suited  for  families- 
consisting  of  some  women  and  children.  1 
apprehend  much  wealth  will  ultimately  come 
out  of  raising  silk. 

GARDNER  FURNESS,  P.  M.,  Green  F.  O.+ 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  —  In  1839,  planted  200 
mulberry-trees;  in  1840,  fed  700  worms  for 
eggs;  in  1841,  made  5  Ibs.  reeled  silk;  1842, 
hatched  a  large  lot,  but  they  were  not  so  well 
attended,  and  did  not  do  as  well ;  in  1843, 
hatched  200,000,  did  well  until  ready  to  spin, 
had  then  two  or  three  days  of  excessive  heat, 
and  they  all  sickened  and  died  ;  made  only 
5  Ibs.  reeled  silk. 

I  use  the  spare  rooms  in  my  dwelling- 
house.  [200,000  silk-worms  jammed  into 
the  spare  rooms  of  a  common  dwelling !  No- 
wonder  they  all  "  sickened  and  died."  The 
wonder  is  that  any  lived  a  fortnight, — 
I.  R.  B.] 

I  have  tried  the  two-crop  worm,  but  prefer 
the  other  kinds. 

Prefer  early  feeding;  it  is  the  dictate  of 
nature.  [We  trust  our  friend  will  hereafter 
follow  nature  in  the  matter  of  ventilation  al- 
so.—  L  R.  B.]  I  have  had  my  silk  manu- 
factured, and  have  a  full  suit  for  my  own 
wear. 

N.  D.  SMITH,  Washington,  Ark.  —  Having 


LETTERS. 


this  day  received,  through  some  unknown 
friend,  your  Silk  Circular,  I  hasten  to  de- 
spatch a  brief  answer  to  your  queries. 

In  1832,  '33,  and  '34,  small  lots  of  worms 
were  fed  by  us  on  leaves  of  the  native  mul- 
berry, by  way  of  experiment  and  amuse- 
ment—  good  cocoons,  and  no  disease.  Jn 
1840,  4000  worms,  pea-nut  and  sulphur  — 
good  cocoons,  and  no  disease.  In  1841, 
200,000  worms  fed  partly  on  multicaulis, 
white  Italian,  and  native  —  three  fourths  de- 
stroyed by  disease,  and  but  20  bushels  of 
cocoons.  In  1842,  50,000  fed  on  multicaulis 
—  three  fourths  lost  by  disease  —  8  bushels 
of  cocoons.  In  1843,  50,000  worms  —  no 
disease  — 15  bushels  remarkably  fine  co- 
coons. 

I  prefer  the  pea-nut,  as  being  more  hardy, 
and  maturing  in  a  shorter  time,  and  it  reels 
more  easily. 

We  have  the  small-leaved  white  Ital- 
ian, multicaulis,  and  native  mulberry.  We 
should  prefer  the  Italian,  but  for  the  greater 
labor  in  gathering  leaves.  The  mulberry 
ground  is  ploughed  and  harrowed  in  the 
spring,  and  the.  trees  should  be  close  trimmed 
before  they  sprout. 

Worms  kept  back  from  hatching  until 
mild  weather  becomes  settled,  and  the  leaves 
fully  grown,  are  attended  with  much  less 
labor,  and  make  better  cocoons.  The  best 
we  ever  made  were  spun  up  when  the  ther- 
mometer ranged  between  70°  and  90°. 

1  consider  the  diseases  of  silk- worms 
strictly  miasmatic,  produced  by  vicissitudes 
in  the  weather  operating  upon  the  moist 
effluvia  from  the  worms  and  the  litter.  The 
remedy  is  the  free  circulation  of  air,  and  the 
free  use  of  lime.  Lime  operates  by  absorb- 
ing the  moisture,  and  neutralizing,  by  chem- 
ical affinity,  the  matter  from  which  the  nox- 
ious exhalations  arise  —  thus  purifying  the 
atmosphere. 

What  silk  we  make  is  entirely  done  by 
my  wife  and  daughters,  and  the  younger 
children,  without  hindering  my  sons  who 
are  able  to  plough.  We  use  the  Piedmoii- 
tese  reel,  and  the  twisting  is  done  on  the 
old-fashioned  flax-wheel.  The  raw  silk,  en- 
closed, is  a  specimen  of  ten  pounds  reeled 
this  season,  and  the  cloth  was  woven  on 
the  common  loom,  and  dyed  with  red  oak 
bark* — my  daughters  are  clothed  in  it. 
They  have  another  piece  of  40  yards  in  the 
loom,  of  a  finer  thread,  intended  for  pocket- 
handkerchiefs. 

Were  we  to  judge  from  our  own  experi- 
ence of  the  culture  and  manufacture  of 
silk,  we  should  think  it  entirely  feasible ; 
and  that,  even  in  a  domestic  way,  as  a 
branch  of  family  industry,  industrious  fe- 
males, accustomed  to  manufacturing  home- 
made clothing,  can  work  with  silk  as  easily 
and  profitably  as  with  wool,  cotton,  or  flax. 
The  raw  silk  can  also  be  produced  with  as 
much  ease  and  profit  as  wool,  cotton,  or 
flax. 

I    should   like   to   receive    your   Report, 

*  A  fine  specimen  of  household  industry.  —  1.  R.  B. 


whether  this  be  contained  in  it  or  not ;  and 
be  assured,  that  if  I  live,  the  silk  culture 
will  not  be  abandoned  by  my  family,  unless 
we  meet  with  greater  discouragements  than 
we  have  hitherto  met. 

CHARLES  L.  WAKDSWORTH,  Hiram,  Me. 

—  Some  of  my  family  have  fed  a  very  few 
worms   for  three   or   four   years  —  use   the 
white   mulberry  —  have   a  few  multicaulis, 
and  mean  to  increase  them.    This  year  have 
fed  60  Ibs.  good  cocoons,  large  pea-nut  va- 
riety —  eggs  obtained  of  Mr.  Morris,   Bur- 
lington, N.  J.  —  hatched  June  20th  — began 
to  spin  in  thirty-two  days  —  a  very  few  died 
after    they    began   to   spin,  but  in   general 
they  were  very  healthy. 

I  use  an  out-building  20  by  15  feet,  cov- 
ered originally  with  green  boards,  and  the 
cracks  would  now  average  one  inch  in  width 

—  a    loose   ground   floor,  and    none   above. 
One  large  door  at  one  end,  and  a  window  at 
the  other  —  use  no  artificial  heat  —  and  no 
lime  —  feed   on   branches  altogether.      The 
door  and  window  were  kept  closed  in  high 
winds,  and  cold  spells ;  at  other  times  fully 
open. 

During  our  feeding,  the  thermometer  va- 
ried very  much.  One  day  it  ran  from  55° 
to  85°.  One  day  from  60°  to  92°.  One  day 
from  50°  to  80°,  and  one  from  50°  to  88°. 
One  thing  I  wish  to  mention  particularly. 
After  they  began  to  spin,  1  found  the  ther- 
mometer one  morning  down  to  44°,  and  the 
next  morning  down  to  46°.  The  worms, 
of  course,  were  torpid,  dormant,  and  stiff': 
I  thought  it  was  a  gone  case  with  them,  but 
they  revived  with  returning  warmth,  and 
went  on  with  their  wonderful  labors,  to  all 
appearance  not  essentially  injured  by  their 
temporary  interruption,  and  brought  out  the 
results  as  above  stated.  The  expense  of 
cutting  the  bushes,  and  feeding  this  lot  of 
60  Ibs.  cocoons,  I  am  sure  did  not  exceed  10 
cents  a  lb.,  though  I  hired  cheap. 

There  are  a  few  others  in  this  region  that 
have  made  similar  experiments  with  myself 
in  growing  silk,  and  with  similar  results. 
Among  the  number  is  Mr.  George  Fitch, 
South  Bridgeton  ;  Mr.  James  Walker.  Frye- 
burg;  Mr.  James  McArthur,  Livingston; 
Mr.  Dillingham,  Hebron. 

From  this  you  will  see,  that  we  can  grow 
silk,  even  in  Maine.  I  fully  believe  that 
this  precious  and  invaluable  product  may 
be  cultivated  any  where  and  every  where,  in 
our  extended  country  and  continent,  wher- 
ever our  favorite  crop,  Indian  corn,  can  be 
grown. 

DAVID  J.  OGDEN,  Rosendale,  JV*.  Y.  —  I 
feel  deeply  interested  in  the  silk  business, 
but  since  I  have  attempted  it,  I  have  met 
with  many  discouragements.  At  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Silas  Smith,  of  Springfield,  I 
entered  on  the  business  in  the  spring  of 
1842.  I  purchased  trees  sufficient  to  plant, 
five  acres,  but  a  cold,  dry  spell  of  weather 
followed  immediately  after  planting,  which 
killed  three  acres  entirely,  and  about  half 


LETTERS. 


of  the  remaining  two  acres.  From  a  late 
frost,  I  fell  short  of  leaves,  and  had  eight  or 
nine  bushels  of  imperfect  cocoons.  This  year 
I  commenced  feeding  about  20,000,  which 
appeared  to  do  very  well  until  about  winding 
time,  when  all  died,  with  the  exception  of 
enough  to  make  about  three  pecks  of  co- 
coons. 

My  information  was  very  limited  prior  to 
my  engaging  in  the  business.  I  subscribed 
to  the  Silk  Record,  and  had  Mr.  Roberts's 
work  on  the  Culture  of  Silk,  as  my  guide. 
I  have  observed  the  habits  of  the  worm  very 
closely,  and  I  can  safely  say  /  have  seen  all 
the  diseases  that  it  is  subject  to,  and  1  believe 
the  nearer  we  can  get  them  to  a  state  of 
nature  the  greater  the  success.  I  feel  confi- 
dent that  no  plan  that  I  have  yet  seen  can 
compare  with  Mr.  Gill's,  although  I  have 
not  tried  it.  When  I  commenced  feeding 
my  last  crop,  I  put  some  on  the  trees,  and 
they  grew  four  times  as  fast  as  those  fed  in 
the  house ;  and  I  believe,  from  that  experi- 
ment, that  many  diseases  originate  in  the 
early  stages  of  me  worm,  that  do  not  show 
their  fatal  consequences  until  the  last  age. 
If,  therefore,  some  plan  can  be  pursued  that 
will  give  them  the  same  amount  of  free  air 
that  Mr.  G.'s  plan  gives  them  after  the  sec- 
ond moulting,  I  think  our  success  will  be 
certain.  You  will  please  send  me  one  of  the 
Reports  of  the  Convention,  and  whatever  the 
cost  may  be  I  will  get  it  to  you. 

My  ill  success  has  prevented  others  in  this 
vicinity  from  entering  into  the  business. 

P.  S.  I  am  requested  to  mention,  by  Levi 
McKeon,  that  he  has  fed  from  2  to  3000 
worms  for  the  last  five  years,  on  a  flat  sur- 
face, and  has  not  lost  over  two  per  cent,  a 
year,  and  he  thinks  the  business  is  prac- 
ticable. 

LINCOLN  JACOB,  Hingham,  Mass.  —  About 
the  middle  of  June  I  hatched  two  or  three 
thousand  worms.  They  spun  well.  About 
the  first  of  July  I  hatched  a  large  lot — they 
did  well  until  they  began  to  spin  ;  at  this  time 
the  weather  was  very  hot  and  dry,  the  worms 
began  to  be  very  feeble  and  die  —  in  one 
week  they  nearly  all  died.  I  then  hatched 
six  or  eight  thousand  —  they  spun  well  — 
about  the  middle  of  September  used  artificial 
heat  one  week  at  the  close. 

I  arn  more  convinced  than  ever  that  water 
does  not  hurt  the  worms.  I  believe  if  I  had 
sprinkled  my  leaves  with  water  this  season, 
when  the  weather  was  so  very  dry  and  hot, 
I  should  have  saved  my  worms. 

ENOCH  BACON*,  Southbridge,  Mass. — In 
the  fall  of  1841,  a  brother  of  mine  at  the  West 
recommended  the  silk-growing  business  to 
be  suitable  employment  for  invalids  and  aged 
people.  Being  broken  down  by  infirmities 
of  age,  I  listened  to  the  recommendation.  I 
therefore  procured  2000  trees — multicaulis 
and  Canton — which  I  laid  down  in  the 
spring  of  1842,  and  from  them,  with  the  help 
of  some  white  mulberry-trees  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, I  raised  51  pounds  8  ounces  co- 
3 


coons  —  saved  a  part  for  seed,  and  reeled  4 
pounds  2  ounces  first-rate  silk. 

In  May,  1643,  I  set  out  something  more 
than  5000  roots  on  60  rods  of  land,  and  laid 
down  some  cuttings.  So  I  have  now  7  or 
8000  trees,  and  have  raised  this  year  3  pounds 
11  ounces  of  reeled  silk.  I  had  48  pounds 
4  ounces  of  cocoons.  I  saved  3  pounds  12 
ounces  for  seed,  and  reeled  44  pounds  8 
ounces.  I  was  disappointed  about  having 
eggs  to  hatch  late.  I  had  foliage  enough  to 
feed  many  more.  I  find  there  is  much  to  be 
learnt  in  growing  silk.  I  have  had  three  sorts 
of  worms  —  sulphur,  mammoth  white,  and 
pea-nut;  the  two  former  kinds  were  very 
healthy,  fed  well,  wound  and  yielded  well. 
The  pea-nut,  I  think,  according  to  the  expe- 
rience I  have  had,  are  more  unhealthy  than 
the  others.  Used  no  lime,  except  for  white- 
washing, and  on  the  floor. 

I  think  the  silk  culture  is  much  on  the 
gain,  and  will  be  a  business  of  importance  to 
the  United  States.  I  advise  every  man  en- 
gaged  in  it  to  hold  out  with  good  courage. 
Difficulties  always  attend  a  new  business. 
We  shall  soon  surmount  them  all  —  have 
already  done  this  in  regard  to  many.  I  am 
confident,  that  there  will  be  more  done  hi 
our  town  the  coming  season  than  ever. 

H.  P.  BYRAM,  Brandenburg,  Ky.  —  With 
pleasure  I  respond  to  the  questions  contained 
in  the  "  Silk  Circular  "  of  the  American  In- 
stitute. 

1.  I  have  fed  silk- worms  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  every 
season  except  one,  since  the  year  1837  in- 
clusive, and  generally  with   good  success ; 
loss  by  disease  in  no  crop  to  exceed  15  per 
cent.,  and  often  not  over  3  per  cent. 

2.  I  have  fed  in  enclosed  buildings,  venti- 
lated by  doors,  windows,  and  openings  under 
the  latter,  &c.,  and  heated  by  a  stove  when 
necessary. 

3.  The  present  season  I  fed  in  an  open 
shed,  with  decidedly  good  success,  —  worms 
healthy,  and  wound  large,  fair  cocoons. 

4.  1  have  fed  every  variety  of  worms  that 
1  could  procure,  and  give  the  preference  to 
those  called  the  Chinese  Imperial,  and  a  va- 
riety represented  to  me  as  pea-nut,  superior 
to  all  other  varieties  of  that  name  that  I  have 
seen,  still  resembling  some  of  them  in  color, 
&c.,  which  is  (the  worms)  white  — and  the 
cocoons   white  and  nankin,  but  large,  firm 
and  heavy,  and  reels  freely. 

5.  I  feed  from  the  multicaulis  in  the  first 
ages,  and  in  the  last  stage  use  all  the  morus 
alba  (large  leaf)  and  Canton  that  I  can  pro- 
cure—  the    latter   kinds   yielding   the   most 
silk,  but  the  multicaulis  producing  a  finer 
fibre,  and  which  reels  more  freely,  and  in 
feeding  in  this  way  secures  both  advantages 
in  some  degree. 

The  multicaulis  should  be  cut  off  near  the 
ground  every  three  years,  one  third  of  the 
field  each  year.  The  other  varieties  1  head 
down  every  year.  I  feed  branches  in  the  last 
stages. 

6.  I  have  hatched  and  fed  worms  in  every 


LETTERS. 


month  from  April  to  August,  the  earliest 
fed  always  producing  the  heaviest  cocoons. 
The  latter  equally  healthy,  when  the  eggs 
have  been  properly  kept  and  managed.  But 
few  persons  have  succeeded  in  late  feeding, 
from  the  want  of  proper  care  of  the  eggs. 

7.  The  causes  of  bad  success  that  have 
come  to  my  knowledge  have  been  owing 
either  to  bad  eggs,  or  badly  kept,  or  the 
want  of  free  circulation  of  air  in  the  apart- 
ment.* 

8  and  9. 

10.  The  hatching  of  eggs  can  be  per- 
fectly retarded  by  being  placed  in  a  tin  box, 
enclosed  in  a  wood  one,  and  suspended  in  the 
body  of  the  ice,  near  the  bottom  of  the  ice- 
house. This  is  done  by  placing  a  long  box, 
cut  in  three  lengths  and  stood  on  end,  and 
placed  in  soon  after  the  filling  of  the  ice  is 
commenced.  The  top  joints  can  be  removed 
as  the  ice  settles.  The  eggs  at  no  time  to  be 
above  the  body  of  the  ice.  They  sho.uld  be 
placed  in  the  ice  in  February  or  early  in 
March. 

So  far  as  my  observation  extends,  (and  I 
have  examined  the  subject  with  much  care,) 
I  am  led  to  the  conclusion  that  early  feeding 
in  open  sheds  that  can  be  dosed  on  either  side 
at  pleasure,  will  be  the  most  successful  meth- 
od for  general  adoption.  Yet,  from  experi- 
ence, I  believe  that  feeding  can  be  carried  on 
successfully  from  May  to  October,  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale,  upon  an  artificial  plan,  when 
art  is  applied  in  aid  of  nature ;  that  is,  to  aid 
ventilation  by  fire,  in  warm,  sultry  weather, 
and  in  cold  weather,  to  furnish  a  constant 


ipply  of  fresh,  warm  air.t 
P.  S.    Doct. 


Charles  Stuart  of  this  State, 
by  mere  accident,  three  years  since,  was  in- 
duced to  try  the  plan  of  open  or  shed  feed- 
ing, and  has  continued  it  for  the  last  two 
seasons  with  every  desired  success. 

MARTIN  PHELPS,  Preble,  Cortland  Co., 
JV.  Y.  —  Have  fed  worms  two  seasons  — 
business  entirely  new  —  every  thing  to  learn 
by  experience.  The  first  season  hatched  12 
to  15,000  worms —  much  trouble  about  leaves, 
but  after  all  carried  them  through  in  thirty- 
eight  days  —  had  good  cocoons,  and  4  pounds 
good  raw  silk,  which  my  daughter  has  made 
into  sewings. 

This  season,  had  some  trouble  about  eggs, 
but  finally  got  and  hatched  three  fourths  of 
an  ounce.  They  were  very  healthy,  and 
brought  out  good  results  again  —  how  much 
silk  I  shall  have  cannot  yet  say. 

We  have  this  year  the  pea-nut  variety. 
The  cocoons  are  very  large  and'  handsome, 
more  so  than  they  were  last  year,  when  we 
fed  two  months  earlier.  We  fed  in  a  low 
one-story  building,  24  feet  long  by  14  wide, 
enclosed  tight,  but  no  ceiling,  with  4  win- 
dows and  2  doors  —  we  use  a  box-stove. 

*  See  the  details  of  my  experiment  showing  the 
necessity  of  thorough  ventilation,  as  published  in 
.t,he  Burlington  Silk  Record,  in  1841.  Also,  in  the 
First  Annual  Report  of  the  N.  E.  S.  Convention,  1842. 

t  See  statements  respecting  Mr.  Sanders,  in  Ap- 
pendix. 


We  use  the  multicaulis  —  have  one  eighth 
of  an  acre  that  was  planted  a  year  ago  last 
spring,  in  rows  about  two  and  a  half  feet 
apart  —  hoed  them  well  three  times;  they 
grew  finely  and  yielded  well.  We  cut  them 
in  the  fall,  and  left  the  roots  in  the  ground 
over  winter.  Almost  all  lived  and  came 
forward  at  least  ten  days  earlier  than  those 

Slanted  out  this  spring,  and  yielded  nearly 
ouble  the  leaves  through  the  season.  The 
tops  that  I  cut  off,  I  put  in  boxes,  and  filled 
them  with  dry  sand,  and  kept  them  in  the 
cellar.  They  came  out  this  spring  fresh  and 
good.  I  planted  them  in  furrows  about  three 
teet  apart  —  I  took  a  good  deal  of  pains  in 
covering  them,  and  should  think  almost  every 
bud  grew.  Some  I  took  up  roots  and  tops 
together,  and  buried  in  a  dry  place.  They 
kept  well.  I  set  them  out  standing.  They 
have  done  well,  but  do  not  think  it  is  the 
best  way.  I  shall  leave  all  my  roots  in  the 
ground  this  winter.  I  have  now  about  half 
an  acre,  and  if  they  grow  as  thrifty  as  they 
have  this  season,  I  can  feed  50,000  or  more. 

THOMAS  MELLEN,  Madison,  Madison  Co., 
JV.  F.  —  It  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to 
attend  the  Fair  and  Silk  Convention,  but  the 
state  of  my  health  forbids.  I  attended  the 
late  Fair  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society, 
at  Rochester,  as  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Judges  on  silk  and  silk  fabrics ;  the  weather 
being  warm  and  favorable.  The  exhibition 
of  cocoons,  raw  silk,  sewing-silk,  and  twist, 
and  various  silk  fabrics,  was,  upon  the  whole,' 
large  and  encouraging,  and  the  exhibiters 
quite  numerous,  and  the  most  of  them  quite 
satisfied  with  their  experiments,  and  en- 
couraged to  progress  in  the  culture  of  silk. 
The  greatest  defect  I  noticed  was  a  want  of 
skill  in  reeling.  But  to  proceed  to  answer 
the  interrogatories  contained  in  your  Circu- 
lar. And  first.  I  have  fed  silk-worms  six 
successive  years  besides  the  present.  In  1837,' 
a  cold  year,  I  fed  a  small  crop  ;  they  were 
a  longer  time  in  maturing  than  usual,  but 
healthy,  and  made  good  cocoons.  In  1838,  I 
fed  two  small  crops ;  the  summer  was  hot 
and  dry,  or  mostly  so ;  the  worms  were 
healthy,  matured  and  wound  in  six  weeks. 
The  results  good.  In  1839,  a  very  cool  sea- 
son, I  fed  two  crops,  and  different  kinds  of 
worms.  They  were  generally  eight  weeks 
before  they  spun,  but  very  healthy,  and  spun 
good  cocoons.  1840  —  I  fed  three  crops, 
of  different  hatchings ;  the  season  was  warm 
and  the  worms  did  well,  generally,  but  one 
brood,  that  was  in  its  last  age  about  the 
middle  of  August,  when  we  had  a  week  of 
excessive  hot  weather  —  the  thermometer 
ranging  from  85  to  96  degrees,  with  hot 
nights  ;  and  on  the  second  day  of  this  hot 
weather,  for  the  first  time,  I  observed  the 
appearance  of  the  yellows.  Believing  it  to 
arise  from  too  excessive  a  degree  of  heat,  I 
ventilated  the  room,  so  as  to  give  them  the 
whole  atmosphere,  night  and  day,  removed 
the  diseased  and  dead  worms,  kept  them 
clean,  and  arrested  the-  disease,  until  the 
weather  became  cooler,  and  lost  but  a  small 


LETTERS. 


•part  of  the  brood.  They  produced  excellent 
cocoons.  I  was  the  more  confident  that  the 
constitution  of  the  silk-worm,  in  or  near  its 
last  age,  could  not  long  endure  a  heat  of  85  to 
90  degrees,  from  the  fact  that  I  had  on  forms 
in  the  same  room,  at  the  time,  a  brood  of  some 
30,000  between  the  2d  and  3d  moulting, 
and  they  passed  the  3d  moulting  during  this 
same  hot  weather  with  perfect  safety,  al- 
though not  more  than  ten  feet  from  the 
hurdles  on  which  were  the  diseased  worms. 
JVot  one  of  this  crop  was  affected  with  the 
yellows,  or  other  disease.  And  I  will  here 
observe,  that  I  have  never  seen  or  known 
this  disease  to  attack  the  silk-worm  except 
in  or  near  its  last  age ;  and  not  then,  except 
there  is  a  continued  heat,  of  several  succes- 
sive days,  of  80  degrees  and  over.  I  will  also 
here  observe,  that  at  the  time  above  men- 
tioned, 1  had  a  neighbor  that  had  a  crop  that 
had  done  finely  until  this  hot  weather  com- 
menced ;  some  had  begun  to  spin,  but  he 
could  not  increase  the  ventilation  of  his  room, 
and  he  literally  lost  his  whole  crop,  and  this 
was  the  case  of  all,  as  far  as  I  could  learn, 
who  had  silk-worms  in  their  last  age  at  that 
time;  which  discouraged  many  new  begin- 
ners In  1841,  '2,  and  '3, 1  have  fed  with  gen- 
eral good  results  ;  and  whenever  any  thing 
has  taken  place  unfavorable,  I  could  trace  it 
to  a  satisfactory  cause. 

1  have  never  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent, 
nor  has  any  one  in  this  region,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  that  it  is  a  safe  method  where  there 
is  a  mild  and  equable  climate  ;  but  in  this 
region  I  doubt  its  practicability,  being  situ- 
ate ih  nearly  43  degrees  north  latitude,  and 
between  eleven  and  twelve  hundred  feet 
above  the  level  of  tide- water  at  Albany.  We 
have  in  every  year,  during  the  time  of  feed- 
ing, some  very  cool  weather,  both  days  and 
nights,  when  it  would  be  necessary  to  regu- 
late the  temperature  of  the  cocoonery  by  the 
heat  of  a  stove. 

I  have  a  preference  for  the  pea-nut  vari- 
eties of  the  silk- worm,  and  particularly  of  the 
Singapore  Nankin-colored  kind  ;  and  a  good 
opinion  of  the  mammoth  sulphur,  and  white. 

The  trees  I  use  are  the  multicaulis,  or  I 
began  with  them,  but  in  this  location  they 
cannot  be  relied  upon.  The  tops  kill  in 
winter,  and  sprout  too  late  in  the  spring  for 
early  feeding,  and  the  leaves  are  too  succu- 
lent for  safe  and  successful  feeding  in  this 
location.  I  only  use  them  to  feed  young 
worms  on  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then  change 
their  feed  to  some  other  hard -wooded  kind, 
viz.  :  the  morus  alba  of  the  Florence  variety, 
which  is  harder  than  the  common  Italian; 
and  on  the  Canton,  the  Broosa,  and  on  my 
new  kind,  that  I  obtained  as  the  Oregon 
mulberry.  My  trees  are  mostly  planted  in 
hedge-rows,  and  cultivated  with  plough  and 
hoe,  or  should  be.  I  have  satisfactorily 
tested,  and  found  a  difference  between,  the 
multicaulis  and  the  alba,  the  Canton,  Broosa, 
and  my  new  plant,  and  find  all  of  the  latter 
far  superior,  in  this  region,  to  the  multicaulis, 
as  regards  the  health  of  the  worm,  and  the 


fineness  of  the  cocoon,  and  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  silk. 

Among  my  acquaintance  where  bad  suc- 
cess has  attended  their  feeding,  my  opinion 
is,  that  they  were  not  sufficiently  ventilated, 
nor  kept  sufficiently  clean,  and  by  feeding 
too  succulent  leaves  during  the  last  ages  of 
the  worm. 

I  have  generally  found  early  feeding  the 
best  and  safest,  though  I  have  had  good  suc- 
cess with  some  broods  fed  late. 

My  new  plant  has  as  yet  withstood  the 
severity  of  our  winters,  (except  the  unma- 
tured  parts.)  but  I  have  suffered  much  by 
haying  them  broken  down  by  heavy  snows, 
and  snow-drifts,  and  particularly  so  the  last 
winter,  when  snow  accumulated  to  an  un- 
precedented depth,  and  lay  until  nearly  the 
middle  of  April,  thawing  and  becoming  satu- 
rated with  water,  and  then  freezing  at  night 
to  the  branches  and  main  stock,  while  thaw- 
ing continued  at  the  bottom,  which  caused 
the  mass  of  snow  to  settle,  and  this  broke  the 
branches  and  main  stem  badly.  I  had  some 
<iOO  of  my  new  kin,d,  which  were  set  for 
standard  trees,  from  two  to  four  years'  growth, 
from  layers  which  had  withstood  the  pre- 
vious winters,  which  were  entirely  broken 
down  in  this  way,  but  I  had  suffered  them  to 
branch  out  within  three  and  four  feet  from 
the  ground  with  heavy  tops,  which  exposed 
them  to  the  heavy  snow-drifts.  Those  that 
stood  out  of  the  drifts  were  not  broken,  and 
were  not  killed  by  the  winter.  I  can  raise 
them  into  standard  trees  here,  by  trimming 
them  so  that  their  branches  shall  be  above 
the  accumulation  of  the  snow.  Their  leaves 
are  large  and  heavy,  and  the  worms  feed  on 
them  with  as  much  avidity  as  on  any  other 
kind  known  to  me,  and  grow  as  well,  and 
have,  in  all  cases,  been  more  healthy  than 
worms  fed  on  any  other  kind  that  I  have, 
and  produce  firm,  heavy  cocoons,  and  the 
quality  of  the  silk  has  in  all  cases  been  far 
superior  in  lustre  to  any  I  can  produce  from 
any  other  kind  of  mulberry.  In  proof  of 
which,  I  refer  to  the  enclosed  sample,  which 
was  produced  by  feeding  silk-worms  on  the 
leaves  of  the  tree  above  referred  to,  and  such 
as  I  have  produced  from  it  every  year  that  I 
have  used  it,  which  is  five.*  To  whatever 
class  of  mulberry  this  belongs,  it  possesses 
rare  qualities  for  the  production  of  silk  of  a 
superior  quality. 

MRS.  HARRIET  H.  A.  DINSMORE,  Ripley, 
Ohio. — In  compliance  with  your  request 
that  all  silk-growers,  however  small  their 
operations,  should  reply  to  your  Silk  Circu- 
lar, I  would  inform  you  that  I  have  fed  silk- 
worms three  summers,  with  very  different 
success  each  summer.  The  first  year  I  fed 
two  lots  of  worms,  the  first  of  which  (fed 
upon  a  mixture  of  multicaulis  and  white 
mulberry)  wound  up  in  four  weeks,  produ- 
cing very  large  firm,  cocoons.  The  next  lot 

*  We  are  sorry  to  say  that  this  sample  was  not 
received,  or  has  been  mislaid.  J.  R.  B. 


LETTERS. 


appeared  to  do  well  until  the  fourth  moult- 
ing, after  which  many  of  them  became  dis- 
eased and  died.  The  residue  spun  thin 
cocoons.  The  failure  attributed,  at  the  time, 
to  bad  eggs. 

The  next  summer's  feeding  was  almost  an 
entire  failure.  The  produce  from  40,000  or 
50,000  worms,  fed  at  different  times,  was  less 
than  -one  bushel  of  cocoons,  and  those  of  an 
indifferent  quality.  Attributed  principally  to 
the  unfavorableness  of  the  season.  While 
feeding  the  largest  lot  of  worms,  I  was 
necessarily  absent  from  home  a  few  days, 
during  which  they  first  showed  symptoms 
of  disease.  On  my  return,  I  immediately 
removed  them  to  clean  shelves  —  gave  them 
more  room,  and  sifted  lime  over  them  every 
morning,  until  they  were  quite  white.  They 
fed  well  and  appeared  healthy  until  time  of 
winding,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  would  have 
spun  well,  had  the  weather  been  dry  as  well 
as  warm.  It  was  rainy  and  very  worm. 
Great  numbers  of  my  worms  became  yellow, 
the  skin  would  break  upon  the  slightest 
touch,  and  a  yellow  liquid  flow  out.  Others 
exhibited  a  flabby  appearance,  and  soon  died. 
The  cocoonery  was  very  offensive,  and  I 
should  have  been  entirely  discouraged  and 
abandoned  the  business  altogether,  had  not 
my  neighbors  been  equally  unsuccessful. 
I  consider  unslacked  lime  a  powerful  disin- 
fecter  of  disease  among  silk-worms,  and 
very,  1  would  say,  absolutely  necessary,  to 
be  used  in  warm,  wet  weather. 

The  past  season  has  been  very  favorable 
for  feeding,  and,  so  far  as  I  know,  the  labor 
of  those  engaged  in  it  has  been  crowned 
with  success.  My  late  crops  of  worms  were 
not  as  healthy,  and  did  not  produce  as  many 
cocoons  by  one  third,  as  those  fed  early  in 
the  season.  I  am  of  opinion,  that,  in  all 
cases,  where  the  hatching  of  the  egg  is  re- 
tarded much  beyond  the  natural  time,  (the 
expanding  of  the  mulberry  foliage,)  it  affects 
the  health  of  the  worm. 

The  building  used  as  a  cocoonery  was  for- 
merly a  dairy-house,  twenty-four  by  eighteen 
feet,  lathed  and  plastered,  with  four  win- 
dows, and  a  door  opening  to  the  north. 
Have  fed  the  sulphur  and  salmon-colored 
pea-nut  worms  —  prefer  the  last  variety. 
Have  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  multi- 
caulis of  three  years'  growth.  The  first 
autumn,  a  part  of  the  trees  were  taken  up 
and  buried  in  the  ground,  and  a  part  left 
standing.  Since  which,  they  have  all  been 
left  during  the  winter.  And  the  trees  which 
were  not  taken  up  the  first  winter,  are  now 
larger,  and  produce  more  foliage,  than  those 
which  were. 

The  corn  cultivator  and  hoe  arc  used  in 
cultivating  them.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
the  cause  of  failure  in  many,  perhaps  most 
cases  where  the  multicaulis  is  used  for 
feeding,  arises  from  using  leaves  that  have 
not  sufficient  growth  or  thickness,  and  are 
not  ripe.  The  young  and  under  leaves  have 
not  sufficient  nutriment,  or,  in  other  words, 
not  sufficient  material  to  produce  silk.  The 
worm  fed  on  such  leaves  passes  through  its 


various  and  wondrous  changes,  lives  the 
time  prescribed  by  nature  for  its  existence, 
then,  either  stretches  itself  out  and  dies,  or 
winds  a  thin,  indifferent  cocoon,  because  it  has 
not  silk  enough  to  icind  a  better.  This,  also, 
is  the  opinion  of  many  others  with  whom  I 
have  conversed  on  the  subject. 

I  was  induced  to  commence  feeding  silk- 
worms, as  an  employment  better  suited  to 
my  strength,  than  taking  care  of  a  dairy.  It 
also  afforded  a  prospect  of  future  useful  and 
profitable  employment  for  a  family  of  small 
children. 

Should  the  information  I  have  communi- 
cated, assist  in  any  degree  the  important  ob- 
ject you  have  in  view,  I  shall  feel  very  much 
gratified  in  having  written  it. 

WM.  DOOHTTLE,  Perryville,  Madison  Co., 
JV.  F.  —  I  have  fed  worms  for  three  years. 
The  first  year  fed  some  for  a  neighbor,  on 
what  we  call  the  lowlands,  where  the  fog 
from  Oneida  Lake  continues  in  the  morning 
till  seven  or  eight  o'clock.  Raised  about 
two  bushels  of  cocoons  —  ought  to  have  had 
many  more  —  attribute  the  failure  to  the 
eggs  commencing  hatching  in  the  cellar,  and 
to  cold,  damp  mornings,  occasioned  by  the 
fog,  &c.  From  these  cocoons,  I  saved  some 
of  the  best  for  seed,  and  succeeded,  the  sec- 
ond year,  in  raising  seventy-five  pounds  of 
very  good  cocoons  of  the  Nankin  pea-nut 
variety.  Saved  for  seed,  such  as  perfect 
cocoons,  but  not  the  hardest  and  best,  (having 
been  informed  that  they  were  equally  good,) 
and  the  result  has  been  this  year  an  inferior 
quality  of  cocoons.  My  first  lot  this 'year 
was  small ;  the  second  were  killed,  mostly, 
by  changing  the  feed  from  multicaulis  to 
black  mulberry.  Our  multicaulis  was  much 
injured  by  a  storm  of  hail,  (literally  torn  in 
pieces,)  and  I  was  compelled  to  use  the 
black  mulberry  leaves,  and  they  were  so 
coarse  and  tough,  that  most  of  the  worms 
died,  and  I  raised  only  seventy-five  pounds 
of  cocoons  this  year.  I  have  fed  principally 
on  multicaulis,  but,  for  experiment,  have  fed 
two  or  three  thousand  each,  after  the  fourth 
moulting,  on  branches  of  the  multicaulis  and 
white  mulberry,  and  could  see  no  particular 
difference  in  the  quantity  or  quality  of  the 
cocoons.  I  have  fed  a  few  of  the  sulphur 
variety  of  worms,  but  mostly  pea-nut,  and 
prefer,  as  far  as  my  experience  goes,  the 
Nankin  pea-nut.  Think  the  business  will 
yield  a  fair  compensation  for  labor. 

P.  S.  I  have  a  cocoonery  with  a  stove, 
and  regulate  the  temperature,  according  to 
judgment,  by  fire,  ventilation,  &c. 

CLARK  AVERY,  Perryville,  Madison  Co., 
JV.  Y.  —  I  shall  make  my  report  by  replying 
to  your  questions  in  order,  and  as  they  are  in 
the  Silk,  Circular. 

1.  I  have  fed  worms  four  years.  The  first 
year  fed  a  few  only.  The  second  year  raised 
ninety-eight  pounds  of  cocoons  —  good  suc- 
cess. Third  year,  raised  fifty-six  pounds  of 
cocoons  —  did  poorly ;  my  eggs  were  not 
properly  taken  care  of;  commenced  hatching 


LETTERS. 


prematurely,  in  March,  and  hence  my  crop  j 
of  worms  was  small,  and  of  an  inferior  qual- 
ity. 

2.  I  feed  in  a  cocoonery,  and  regulate  the 
temperature  by  a  stove  and  ventilation,  ac-  j 
cording  to  the  dictates  of  judgment. 

3.  I  have  not  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent,    j 

4.  I  have  generally  fed  the  sulphur,  but,  j 
from  a  little  experience  this  year,  I  prefer  j 
the  pea-nut. 

5.  Mult  caulis   chiefly.     I  cut    them    off  j 
some  five  or  six  inches  from  the  ground,  in 
the  fall  annually,  and  plough  and  hoe  them 
as  farmers  usually  do  corn. 

6.  Early  feeding,  according  to  my  experi- 
ence, is  much  better  than  late. 

7.  As  to  "  bad  success  in  feeding,"  I  can 
say  nothing  but  what  is  found  in  the  accom- 
panying reports. 

~.  I  have  not  tested  the  use  of  mulberry 
for  paper,  and  cannot  this  year. 

9.  Have  not  tried  any  "process  of  rotting 
in  order  to  separate  the  bark  of  the  young 
mulberry  from  the  woody  fibre,  so  as  to 
convert  it  into  paper  or  silk  fabric,  and  can- 
not do  so  this  season. 

Most  certainly  there  are  difficulties  to  be 
met  in  the  cultivation  of  silk,  but  care  and 
experience  will  enable  us  to  overcome  them, 
and  silk  will,  by  and  by,  become  one  of  the 
staple  productions  of  our  country,  and  the 
culture  and  manufacture  of  it  amply  repay 
the  industrious  for  their  investments  and 
labor. 

DAVID  IRISH,  PerryriUe,  Madison  Co.,  A".  F. 

1.  Have  fed  worms  three  years  with  uni- 
form good  success.  First  year  a  few  —  sec- 
ond year  fifty  pounds — this  year  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  pounds  of  cocoons. 

2  and  3.  I  use  a  wagon-house,  and  also 
an  open  shed,  and  the  worms  do  equally  well 
in  both.  Use  no  artificial  heat — temperature 
is  not  regulated  at  all. 

4.  Have  raised  the  pea-nut  worm,  and  two 
kinds  of  sulphur,  one  much  better  than  the 
other.     1    prefer  the   best  kind  of  sulphur: 
(the  mammoth  sulphur,  I  suppose  they  are ;) 
they  are  a  more  healthy  worm  than  the  pea- 
nut, and  make  a  good  and  large  cocoon. 

5.  1  use  multicaulis  trees — hoe  them  in 
the  early    part  of   summer,  or   spring,    as 

corn,  and  cat  them  down  i 


farmers   do 

the  ground  in  the  fall,  and  plough  a  furrow 
on  each  side  of  the  rows,  turning  the  earth 
upon  the  plants  to  preserve  the  roofs  of  the 
trees  alive  through  the  winter. 

6.  I  have,  and  find  early  feeding  much  the 
most  certain  and  profitable  in  its  results. 

Some  have  injured  their  worms  by 
feeding  tender  and  succulent  leaves  after  the 
fourth  moulting,  and  some  by  changing  from 
the  finer  varieties  of  mulberry  to  the  coarser 
and  more  juicy,  after  the  fourth  moulting. 
One  man  destroyed  a  crop  of  worms  by 
curing  cocoons  with  camphor  in  the  co- 
coonery, and  I  have  heard  of  one  who 
poisoned  a  crop  to  death  by  "~*^"g  tobacco 
in  the  cocoonery. 

6.  1  hare  not. 

3* 


9.  I  have  not. 

[The  three  last-named  gentlemen  unite  in 
presenting  the  following  very  just  and  sensi- 
ble remarks.  —  I.  R.  B.j 

We  beg  leave  to  subjoin  a  few  general  re- 
marks applicable  to  the  several  foregoing 
reports,  and  expressive  of  our  united  expe- 
rience and  practice.  We  have  heretofore 
made  the  raw  material  into  sewing-silk  of  a 
very  superior  quality.  We  find  no  difficulty 
in  competing  with  the  Italian  in  our  home 
market.  Mr.  Irish  presented  some  at  the 
State  Fair,  last  month,  and  took  the  second 
premium  on  manufactured  silk,  or,  in  other 
words,  the  highest  prize  on  u  Sewings,"  in 
the  State.  As  to  management  of  worms, 
&C-,  eggs  should  be  saved  from  the  best 
cocoons  of  the  first  crop  ;  they  may  be  kept 
in  any  cool,  dry  cellar,  or  in  a  chamber  with- 
out fire  till  spring,  and  then  should  be  buried 
till  wanted.  A  cocoonery  should  always  be 
kept  perfectly  sweet,  and  well  ventilated. 
None  but  mature  leaves  should  be  given  to 
worms  after  the  fourth  moulting ;  and,  if  the 
leaves  are  changed,  it  should  always  be  done 
gradually,  and  from  the  coarser  to  the  finer 
varieties  of  mulberry.  All  dead  worms 
should  be  removed  at  once  —  the  cocoonery 
should  be  kept  as  quiet  as  possible  —  care 
and  experience  are  requisite  in  order  to  gen- 
erally succeed  in  the  business.  We  do  not 
think  the  culture  and  manufacture  of  silk 
will  be  a  giant  speculation,  pouring  wealth 
in  mighty  floods  upon  the  careless  and  indo- 
lent, but  we  do  think  silk  is  destined  to  be- 
come a  great  staple,  and  the  business  will 
be  as  profitable  as  other  departments  of  in- 
dustry. 

'  Whenever  we  have  railed,  we  think  we 
can  trace  it  to  some  mismanagement  on  our 
part,  and  believe  experience  will  enable  us 
to  prosecute  the  business  successfully  and 
profitably. 

MOSES  A!TD    ASEHATH    GoCGE,  Xortk*mf- 

to*,  Mass.  —  We  present  the  following  state- 
ment, as  the  result  of  our  experience  in  the 
silk  culture :  — 

We  have  assisted  feeding  worms  four  or 
five  years,  but  not  till  the  present  year  hare 
we  taken  the  tekoU  charge  and  responsibility 


This  year  we  took  the  whole 
one  of  Dr.  Stebbins's  feeding 
ments,  in  this  town;  for  which  he  paid  us 
a  stipulated  and  satisfactory  price  by  the 
pound  (eighteen  cents)  for  all  the  cocoons 
we  should  raise  for  him.  We  and  two  boys 
were  in  the  business,  and  were  well  paid, 
*nA  should  be  willing  to  engage  to  him  again 
on  the  same  terms,  as  it  has  given  us  a  better 
return  than  we  could  have  realized  from  any 
other  employment.  Had  the  late  crops  suc- 
ceeded as  well  as  the  first,  we  should  hare 
made  money^fast  enough. 

We  fed  the  worms  on  tables  of  boards  and 
on  hurdles  in  two  long  rooms  well  lighted 
by  windows  on  each  side ;  but,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Dr.  Stebbins,  the  glass  windows 
*  afreeorcalatwaofair, 


LETTERS. 


day  and  night,  admitted  to  every  part  of  the 
rooms,  from  the  sides  and  doors  at  the  ends. 

Our  worms  were  fed  whenever  they  would 
eat,  —  from  early  morning  to  the  close  of  the 
day,  in  consequence  of  which  we  had  a  lot 
of  large  and  heavy  cocoons,  the  admiration 
of  all  who  saw  them,  and  visitors  were  not  a 
few,  purposely  to  see  the  sight. 

Bad  success  in  feeding  may  result  from 
bad  eggs,  often  made  such  by  bad  manage- 
ment, in  or  out  of  the  ice-house,  but  more 
frequently  from  careless,  inattentive  feeding, 
and  want  of  air. 

Having  so  good  luck  with  our  first  crop, 
and  wishing  to  make  as  much  as  possible  by 
the  undertaking,  we  were  supplied  with  eggs 
kept  back  from  hatching,  and  the  whole  of 
ten  or  twelve  ounces  of  eggs  proved  a  failure. 

From  the  experience  of  the  past  and  the 
present  year,  we  can  recommend  the  feeding 
of  only  one  crop,  and  that  an  early  crop. 

JAMES  C.  CHURCH,  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
Co.,  JV.  ¥.  —  In  1841, 1  fed  about  150  worms. 
With  the  exception  of  a  few,  they  all  wound 
up,  and  produced  good  cocoons.  The  follow- 
ing winter  I  built  a  cocoonery,  32  feet  by  20 
feet,  two  and  a  half  stories  high,  ventilated 
by  sliding  windows ;  I  have  used  no  artificial 
heat. 

The  next  spring  I  planted  one  acre  of 
branches  of  the  multicaulis,  by  laying  them 
in  drills  eight  feet  apart.  They  came  up  very 
regularly,  and  grew  finely. 

1  that  season  raised  forty-nine  pounds  co- 
coons, producing  four  pounds  ten  ounces  silk, 
including  the  pierced  cocoons  that  were  spun 
into  coarse  silk. 

I  have  never  fed  in  open  sheds.  I  prefer 
the  pea-nut  kinds.  I  use  chiefly  the  multi- 
caulis. I  have  fed  early  and  late.  I  have 
been  the  most  successful  in  early  feeding. 

WM.  A.  FLIPPIN,  Cumberland  County,  Fa. 
—  As  you  have  requested  that  all  silk-grow- 
ers should  inform  you  of  their  success  on  the 
plan  of  open  feeding,  I  thought  1  would  in- 
form you  of  the  success  I  had  with  a  small 
lot  of  worms,  fed  in  an  open  shed,  the  last 
spring.  I  had  commenced  the  experiment 
before  I  saw  your  views  on  the  subject  of 
open  feeding,  believing  it  to  be  the  only  suc- 
cessful mode,  if  they  could  be  protected  from 
birds,  insects,  &c.  My  worms  were  very 
healthy,  although  there  were  several  frosts 
during  the  time  of  feeding.  I  have  no  doubt 
they  would  have  made  a  first-rate  crop  of  silk 
had  they  not  been  destroyed  by  the  wasps. 
Had  they  been  fixed  on  Mr.  John  W.  Gill's 
plan,  with  cradles  and  fans,  I  think  that  would 
have  been  a  sufficient  protection ;  the  fans,  no 
doubt,  would  be  first-rate  to  drive  off  the 
wasps.  I  should  have  been  more  particular 
with  the  crop,  had  I  seen  your  proposals 
sooner.  I  fed  three  ounces  of  eggs  in  a  house 
that  I  built  for  the  purpose  two  years  ago. 
They  made  about  twenty -one  bushels  of  good 
cocoons.  If  it  is  convenient,  I  would  be  glad 
to  receive  one  of  your  pamphlets,  and  if  open 
feeding  proves  to  be  the  most  successful,  I 


shall  adopt  that  plan  the  next  year,  and  en- 
large my  operations. 

CYRUS  THOMPSON,  Highgate  Spa,  Fran/din 
Co.,  Vt.  —  1  have  fed  silk- worms  in  a  small 
way  for  the  last  six  years,  and  am  satisfied 
from  my  own  experience  that  with  proper 
management  it  may  be  made  a  profitable 
branch  of  business,  even  as  far  north  as  here. 
I  have  about  three  acres  of  mulberry-trees, 
two  of  white  Italian  and  one  of  multicaulis. 
1  never  lost  many  trees  by  our  cold  winters, 
although  the  multicaulis  kills  near  to  the 
ground.  I  have  always  fed  two  crops  of 
worms  in  a  season,  and  have  always  lost  some 
in  the  Last  crop,  and  always  succeeded  well 
with  the  first.  I  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  1  will  feed  but  one  crop,  and  hatch 
them  about  the  first  of  July. 

I  have  a  building  on  purpose  to  feed  in, 
well  ventilated,  and  no  floor  to  it.  This  year 
I  hatched  one  third  my  eggs  about  the  first 
of  July,  and  made  eighty  pounds  of  cocoons 
of  the  first  quality,  and  from  the  remaining 
two  thirds,  with  the  same  treatment,  1  got 
but  sixty-three  pounds,  and  those  were  not 
so  good.  I  used  no  fires  in  the  cocoonery 
this  season,  but  last  season  I  kept  a  fire  night 
and  day.  My  worms,  however,  did  not  do 
well,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  state  boun- 
ty, I  should  have  lost  on  the  last  crops.  Each 
year's  last  crops  hatched  first  of  August. 

1  should  be  highly  pleased  could  1  attend 
the  Convention,  which  I  think  will  be  very 
beneficial  to  the  silk  cause,  by  diffusing  use- 
ful knowledge  in  the  report  of  the  various 
experiments  and  results  in  different  parts  of 
our  country.  Proper  information  on  this 
subject,  distributed  and  brought  within  reach 
of  all  who  are  inquiring,  must  tend  to  advance 
the  business,  and  lead  to  results,  not  only  of 
individual  benefit,  but  of  general  good  to  this 
country. 

There  are  a  number  of  my  neighbors  en- 
gaged in  this  business,  and  their  success  has 
been  generally  about  the  same  as  mine.  We 
have  always  reeled  and  made  our  cocoons 
into  sewings,  and  sold  it  to  the  country  mer- 
chants in  exchange  for  goods.  We  have  this 
year  reeled  our  silk  for  sale,  and  think  we  are 
making  an  article  that  will  sell  for  cash  in 
market.  If  so,  it  will  be  very  encouraging 
to  us,  as  it  is  very  tedious  to  make  sewings 
by  hand. 

In  1840,  we  made  67  Ibs.  cocoons. 

1841,  "        51  " 

1842,  "      130  " 

1843,  "       143  " 

And,  from  my  experience  in  the  business,  I 
am  satisfied  that  it  must,  when  there  is  prop- 
er information  acquired  on  the  subject,  be- 
come a  profitable  branch  of  industry,  and 
tend  to  general  good,  by  giving  suitable  em- 
ployment to  thousands  of  destitute,  but  mer- 
itorious inhabitants. 

With  these  views,  I  feel  deeply  interested 
in  the  Convention,  and  have  no  doubts  but 
your  investigations  and  Report  will  happily 
result  in  advancing  the  silk  cause  in  this  our 
country. 


LETTERS. 


RET.  D.  BENEDICT,  Pawtucket,  R.  I.  —  I 
have  been  unable  to  pay  much  attention  to 
this  business  this  year,  so  wholly  engrossed 
is  my  tune,  my  thoughts,  and  all  my  powers, 
with  my  historical  pursuits. 

I  have  done  nothing  in  feeding  this  season, 
only  to  raise  enough  for  eggs  for  another 
year.  I  gave  away  all  my  eggs  but  a  few  for 
this  purpose.  I  am  fond  of  the  business,  if  1 
could  attend  to  it.  My  trees  lived  well  the 
last  winter,  and  I  have  left  them  without  any 
care  this  summer,  and  now  have  leaves  in 
abundance. 

My  silk  weaver  made  a  failure  of  it.  I 
kept  him  on  hand  a  good  while,  at  some  sac- 
rifice. His  skill  was  sufficient  as  to  weaving, 
but  he  had  not  the  preparations  for  getting 
out  his  webs,  and  knew  not  how  to  make 
them.  He  made  some  good  plus/t  out  of  a 
short  icei  he  had  on  hand,  and  then  he  was 
up  a  tree. 

I  have  heretofore  united  with  much  satis- 
faction in  the  experiments  in  the  silk  busi- 
ness, and  am  fully  convinced,  so  far  as  the 
practicability  of  the  thing  is  concerned,  that 
the  growing  of  silk  will  in  time  become  an 
extensive  and  profitable  business  in  this 
country. 

Cleanliness,  air,  and  regular  and  full  feed- 
ing, are  the  grand  secrets.  My  small  crop, 
this  year,  was  attended  to  in  my  scientific 
way,  like  fatting  pigs.  I  kept  them  with  a 
full  supply,  and  none  could  do  better.  If  I 
could  have  my  way,  however  large  the  crop, 
I  would  have  the  leaves  always  fresh,  and 
give  them  often  and  plenty,  and  never  leave 
them  on  thick,  mouldy  beds. 

I  do  not  know  the  fact,  but  I  suspect  that 
the  finest  and  most  costly  silk  in  France  is 
made  from  the  small  two-crop  worms. 

J.  L.  WOODWARD,  Milbury,  Mass.  —  My 
operations  have  been  so  limited,  they  are 
^ardly  worth  communicating  ;  yet  they  may 
serve  to  establish  general  principles  in  regard 
to  this  enterprise. 

In  1839  I  purchased  a  lot  of  multicaulis, 
Canton,  and  Alpine  trees.  I  planted  the  two 
former  in  cuttings  ;  one  half  of  them  did  not 
come  up  ;  took  them  up  in  the  fall,  and  put 
them  in  the  cellar.  Next  spring  planted 
them,  laying  the  tree,  root  and  all,  in  fur- 
rows, four  feet  apart,  covering  light.  They 
came  up  first-rate,  and  are  now  flourishing 
trees  ;  have  not  taken  them  up  for  two  years 
past ;  they  have  kept  well  during  the  winter 
seasons.  The  soil  is  of  a  loamy  texture.  I 
have  fed  worms  four  years;  have  generally 
hnd  good  success  ;  have  fed  early  and  late  ; 
consider  early  feeding  decidedly  best ;  have 
fed  in  an  inclosed  building,  well  ventilated. 
I  find  a  free  circulation  of  air  indispensably 
necessary.  Fed  the  pea-nut  and  sulphur ; 
think  the  sulphur  more  healthy.  I  see  noth- 
ing to  prevent  growing  silk  in  this  country, 
and  to  profit,  if  managed  judiciously. 

JAMES  W.  CHAPPELL,  Lima,  Livingston 
Co,t  JV.  Y.  —  I  am  highly  gratified  in  observ- 


ing the  praiseworthy  efforts  of  the  American 
Institute  in  regard  to  the  growth  and  manu- 
facture of  silk.  Successful  experiments  have 
now  become  so  numerous  that  no  doubt  ought 
to  exist  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the  enterprise. 
Five  years'  experience  has  fully  satisfied  me 
that  the  silk  culture  is  not  only  practicable, 
but  can  be  made  amply  to  remunerate  the 
culturist  for  his  labor.  During  those  five 
years  I  have  produced  about  forty  bushels  of 
cocoons,  and  the  result  of  each  year's  opera- 
tions has  been  complete  success. 

In  ]842  I  built  a  cocoonery  20  feet  by  60, 
two  stories  high.  It  has  twenty-six  windows, 
furnished  with  blinds,  and  six  doors.  The 
building  is  plastered  throughout,  which  tends 
to  prevent  sudden  changes  in  temperature, 
and  also  is  more  easily  kept  free  from  in- 
sects and  mice,  the  great  enemies  of  the  silk- 
worm. 

In  regard  to  open  feeding,  I  would  say  that 
I  have  always  fed  icith  icindows  constantly 
open  both  day  and  night,  and  the  doors  during 
the  day  ;  and  am  fully  convinced  that  this  is 
the  true  system  for  successfully  carrying  on 
the  business. 

I  have  never  used  artificial  heat;  have 
used  air-slacked  lime,  and  have  found  the 
early  part  of  the  season  better  than  the  last 
for  feeding.  Of  the  different  varieties  of  silk- 
worm, I  consider  the  large  Nankin  pea-nut 
preferable  to  any  other  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted. 

I  use  the  leaves  of  the  multicaulis  exclu- 
sively for  feeding,  of  which  I  have  about 
three  acres.  The  trees  are  cut  down  within 
about  two  inches  of  the  ground  in  the  spring, 
have  received  no  material  injury  from  the 
winter,  and  many  of  them  have  grown  the 
past  season  to  the  height  of  seven  and  a  half 
feet.  

SAMUEL  WAGNER,  York,  Pa. —  I  have,  for 
two  or  three  years,  been  engaged,  in  a  small 
way,  in  testing  the  practicability  of  intro- 
ducing the  silk  culture  in  this  country.  I 
have  a  growing  interest  and  an  increased 
confidence  in  the  business.  I  should  esteem 
it  a  great  favor  to  receive  a  copy  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Silk  Convention.  The  small 
number  of  persons  who  engaged  in  the  silk 
culture,  in  this  State,  without  any  reference 
to  a  mulberry-tree  speculation  are,  I  believe, 
very  generally  persevering  in  their  enter- 
prise, though  the  withdrawal  of  the  State 
bounty  operates  unfavorably  in  some  cases. 

O.  G.  CATHCART,  WiUiam.sburgh,  Mass. — 
Have  fed  worms  six  years,  and  have  been 
so  far  successful  that  I  have  been  induced 
to  increase  my  stock  of  trees  and  worms 
yearly. 

Am  satisfied  that  the  cultivation  of  silk,  as 
a  branch  of  family  industry,  is  profitable,  and 
might  be  made  more  profitable  to  a  family  of 
children  and  youth  than  most  business  that 
they  now  follow.  Children  and  youth  can 
pick  leaves  and  feed  worms ;  the  mother 
and  daughters  can  convert  the  cocoons  into 


LETTERS. 


raw  silk,  sewing-silk,  hose,  gloves,  laces, 
&c. ;  pierced  cocoons  and  floss  into  various 
articles. 

Four  years  1  fed  in  a  tightly  finished  room 
that  was  well  aired  in  good  weather,  and 
closed  in  bad,  and  the  two  years  past  in  an 
out-house,  singly  hoarded,  with  a  loose  floor, 
and  standing  high  from  the  ground,  exposed 
to  a  free  circulation  of  air  in  all  weath- 
ers ;  and  the  worms  have  been  decidedly 
more  healthy  these  last  seasons  than  they 
were  before. 

Think  the  pea-nut  variety  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred. 

Have  tried  a  number  of  kinds  of  trees  ;  like 
the  Canton  best,  and  consider  large-leaved 
Alpines  good,  especially  to  feed  in  the  last 
age. 

P.  S.  Two  of  my  neighbors  have  lost  al- 
most their  whole  crop  of  worms,  which,  I 
am  convinced,  was  caused  by  heat  and  pent 
air. 

JAMES  MORGAN,  Freedom,  Carroll  County, 
Md.  —  I  have  fed  a  few  worms  each  of  the 
last  four  years,  but  have  had  but  indifferent 
success  in  consequence  of  having  my  feeding 
house  situated  too  low,  it  being  a  saw-mill, 
36  by  12  feet,  surrounded  with  water,  being 
also  in  a  very  large  valley.  Have  never  fed 
in  an  open  shed  or  tent,  but  intend  doing  so 
next  year.  Have  fed  pea-nut  and  sulphur, 
but  prefer  the  pea-nut.  Have  none  but  mul- 
ticaulis  trees ;  about  6000,  standing  about  5 
feet  by  2 ;  intend  planting  one  acre  more  of 
new  land  in  the  spring.  I  let  them  stand  as 
they  grow,  plough  them  twice  during  the 
summer.  Have  raised  eight  bushels  of  co- 
coons this  season,  the  first  crop  much  the 
healthiest,  though  I  lost  all  my  first  leaves  by 
the  frost  on  the  Jst  of  June.  I  am  confident 
that  my  bad  success  is  in  consequence  of  the 
situation  of  my  cocoonery,  as  stated  above. 
Have  not  tested  either  the  8th  or  9th  ques- 
tions of  your  first  series,  and  it  is  now  too 
late  to  do  so  in  time  for  your  Convention.  I 
shall  try  the  8th,  as  I  am  a  paper  manufac- 
turer. 

From  what  I  have  done  in  the  business,  I 
am  satisfied  that  it  will  be  a  profitable  busi- 
ness, and  am  making  preparations  for  build- 
ing a  cocoonery  on  a  high  and  airy  situation, 
for  feeding,  next  summer. 

1  have  one  acre  of  new  ground,  which  1 
intend  to  plant  with  multicaulis  roots  next 
^pring.  You  request  me,  in  your  letter,  to 
send  you  all  the  facts  I  can  get  relating  to 
feeding.  I  know  of  none,  in  this  county,  out 
of  the  many  who  entered  into  the  tree  spec- 
ulation, who  are  feeding  worms  ;  but  they 
are  gone  off,  as .  you  said  in  your  letter,  in 
smoke.  There  were  many  of  them  in  this 
county,  not  one  of  whom  is  doing  any  thing 
in  the  silk  business.  I  am  alone  in  Carroll 
county.  In  Frederick  county,  Mr.  Jenks 
and  Mr.  Ramsburgh  are  feeding  in  the  State 
barracks.  I  was  there,  this  spring,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  feeding  season.  I 
have  not  seen  them  since,  but  have  heard 


that  they  made  superior  cocoons  this  season, 
better  than  they  ever  made  before. 

JAMES  WALKER,  Fryeburg  Island,  Jtfc.  — 
Am  much  pleased  with  your  plan  for  collect- 
ing facts  in  regard  to  the  silk  culture.  I 
have  had  many  difficulties  to  overcome,  there 
being  no  one  near  me  to  give  any  practical 
information.  I  have  fed  worms  eight  sea- 
sons ;  have  the  multicaulis  and  the  white ; 
made  ]2  Ibs.  of  silk  ;  last  year,  34  Ibs.  Af- 
ter all  my  difficulties,  I  am  not  discouraged. 
I  shall  pursue  the  business,  as  I  believe  it 
can  be  made  as  profitable,  even  here,  as  any 
farming  business  we  can  pursue. 

I  prefer  the  pea-nut  worm,  as  yielding 
much  the  most  silk. 

I  was  much  pleased,  last  summer,  to  see 
Mr.  Gill's  plan  of  tent  and  cradle  feeding. 
Let  me  tell  my  experience  as  to  ventilation. 
When  I  first  began  feeding,  I  used  a  com- 
mon room  in  my  house.  My  worms  were 
often  diseased,  but  I  supposed  it  to  be  a  ne- 
cessary incident  of  the  business. 

At  length,  as  a  matter  of  convenience,  I 
took  my  worms  into  an  out-building,  origi- 
nally used  for  curing  hops,  boarded  open, 
like  an  old-fashioned  barn.  There  were 
large  cracks,  so  that  the  air  could  pass  freely 
through  on  all  sides.  Since  then  we  have 
had  very  little  loss  by  disease.  My  feeding, 
therefore,  must  be  styled  open  feeding,  for  it 
is  not  so  confined  as  a  tent  would  be  ;  and  I 
know  I  have  been  successful  in  what  I  have 
attempted  to  do  since  I  have  used  the  above 
building. 

As  to  enlisting  others  in  the  business, 
there  is  no  one,  within  eight  or  ten  miles  of 
me,  doing  much.  As  I  have  been  longer  in 
it  than  any  other,  they  are  coming  to  me  for 
information.  Little  can  I  do  for  them,  ex- 
cept to  tell  them  wherein  I  have  done  wrong. 

[That  is  the  best  kind  of  instruction, 
friend  Walker.  —  1.  R.  B.]  t 

DR.  JAMES  MEASE,  Philadelphia.  —  I  re- 
joice to  see,  by  the  papers,  that  yftu  are  to 
have  a  Silk  Convention  in  New  York  ;  regret 
that  the  state  of  my  health  will  deprive  me 
of  the  pleasure  1  should  have,  could  I  be  one 
of  the  number.  But,  although  absent,  I 
shall  make  a  small  effort  to  aid  the  great 
cause. 

I  urge  the  exclusive  use  of  the  Piedmon- 
tese  reel,  as  essential  to  the  production  of 
good  raw  silk,  to  the  profits  of  the  cultivator, 
and  to  the  excellence  of  the  fabrics  made 
from  it.  The  exclusive  use  of  this  reel  has 
been  established  and  provided  for  by  law  in 
Piedmont,  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  ; 
and  no  attempts  to  improve  it,  in  Europe, 
have  succeeded.  Substitutes,  in  the  United 
States,  have  been  found  inferior,  or  too  ex- 
pensive. The  original  one  which  I  import- 
ed, in  1828,  cost  $14;  but  much  neater  ones 
are  now  made  for  $10.  1  shall  be  happy  to 
put  any  gentleman  in  the  way  of  obtaining 
one.  I  also  imported  a  machine  to  work  up 
the  perforated  cocoons,  and  deposited  it  in 


LETTERS. 


33 


the  Franklin  Institute,  Philadelphia,  in  1831,  |      (5.)  Multicaulis;  let  them  stand,  and  culti 


where  it  can  be  examined.     Directions  for 
using  it  accompanied  the  apparatus. 

ELIAS  FENEYSLEY,  Ellisburg,  Jefferson 
County,  JV.  Y.  —  Has  fed  three  seasons ;  uses 
the  multicaulis  and  Italian  whites ;  first 
crops  good;  late  crops  bad.  Two  seasons 
fed  in  a  common  room  and  corn-house. 
This  year  built  a  cocoonery  40  by  22  feet ; 
did  not  batten  the  joints  ;  left  the  floor 
loose.  Increased  his  grounds  with  trees, 
with  a  view  to  a  regular  and  permanent 
business. 

My  experience,  says  he,  is  just  this.  The 
worm  must  be  wed  ventilated,  as  well  as 
the  cocoonery.  >%me  of  my  worms,  this 
year,  were  taken  with  vomiting.  I  took  a 
part  thus  affected,  and  put  them  on  the  trees, 
and  they  soon  recovered.  The  rest  died  im- 
mediately. 

[Mr.  F.'s  cocoonery  is  undoubtedly  too 
close.  — I.R.B.] 

MICHAEL  KLINE,  Rcamstown  P.  0.,  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Penn.  —  I  commenced  the  silk- 
culture  in  the  year  1841,  on  a  small  scale, 
without  having  any  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness at  all.  My  experience  has  brought  me 
to  believe  that  there  is  nothing  wanting  but 
practical  knowledge  of  the  business  to  in- 
sure full  and  complete  success.  To  get  the 
Report  of  the  Convention,  and  so  get  knowl- 
edge, is  the  main  object  of  my  writing,  for 
I  -rni  determined  to  go  on  in  the  business, 
any  way,  right  or  wrong.  I  wish  to  go 
right. 

Jn  the  year  1841  I  raised  30  Ibs.  of  co- 
coons; in  1842  I  raised  22S  Ibs.;  and  in  1843 
I  raised  350  Ibs.,  although  the  frost  we  had 
in  June  last  spoiled  the  leaf  of  my  trees  so 
much  that  I  could  not  do  any  thing  in  the 
business  the  greatest  part  of  the  best  of  the 
season  this  year. 

I  fed  two  varieties  of  worms,  which  are 
with  us  called  the  small  pea-nut,  and  the 
large  pea-nut.  It  appears  to  me  the  large  is 
the  healthier  worm,  but  1  prefer  the  small 
pea-nut,  because  that  kind  gives  from  20  to 
22  ounces  of  silk  per  bushel  cocoons,  and  the 
large  only  16  to  18  ounces  per  bushel. 

fuse  the  multicaulis;  planted  3.^  acres,  in 
the  same  manner  that  corn  is  planted,  two 
years  last  spring,  and  they  grow  finely.  I 
keep  the  grass  out  by  working  between  the 
rows  several  times  through  the  summer  with 
a  cultivator 

Among  my  acquaintances  engaged  in  the 
business,  there  is  much  complaint  that  they 
can  raise  the  worms  and  keep  them  healthy 
until  a  few  days  before  spinning  ;  then  they 
turn  yellow  and  die ;  and  that  they  can't  find 
out  the  cause.  [See  Appendix.  1.  R.  B.] 

CALEB  PALMER,  Le  Roy,  JV.  Y. —  (1.)  I 
have  fed  two  years;  first  year  1£  bushels 
second  year  2£. 

(2.)  Use  a  common  room;  temperature 
not  regulated. 

(3.)  Never  fed  in  a  shed  or  tent. 


vate  them. 

(6.)  Prefer  early  feeding. 

RYLAND  E.JONES,  Le  Roy,  JV.  Y. —  (l.J 
[  have  fed  two  years  ;  first  year  3  bushels  of 
good  cocoons;  second  year  1^. 

(2.)  Use  a  room  in  the  attic  ;  temperature 
not  regulated. 

(3.)  Never  fed  in  a  shed  or  tent. 

(4.)  The  two-crop  worm. 

(5.)  Multicaulis  and  white  ;  let  them  stand 
out,  and  cultivate  them. 

(6.)  Early  feeding,  about  June. 

NICHOLAS  MCCARTY,  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana. —  I  have  fed  worms  two  seasons.  Last 
year,  from  1|  ounces  of  Piedmontese  eggs, 
had  8£  bushels  good  cocoons.  Same  year 
sent  to  New  Jersey  for  10  ounces  eggs ; 
hatched  and  hatching  when  they  arrived, 
and  lost  the  most  of  them.  Fr%m  the  Pied- 
montese saved  50  ounces  ;  placed  them  in 
ice  at  the  proper  time.  In  the  spring,  with- 
out my  knowledge,  they  were  removed  ;  got 
somehow  out  of  the  ice,  upon  the  surface ; 
and  the  first  I  knew  they  were  all  hatched 
in  the  ice-house.  (I  must  be  censured  for 
great  carelessness.)  Took  my. worms,  June 
15,  and,  to  make  a  short  story  of  a  bad  case, 
made  only  14£  bushels  of  indifferent  co- 
coons ;  not  20  as  good  as  first  crop  last  year. 

(2.)  The  second  floor  of  two-story  houses 
was  used  to  feed  in.  The  temperature  not 
regulated,  but  a  free  circulation  of  air  from 
the  windows. 

[No  common  dwelling-house  has  windows 
enough,. by  one  half,  if  the  rooms  are  filled 
with  worms,  as  is  usual. —  I.  R  B.] 

(3.)  Have  not  fed  in  a  tent  or  open  shed. 
A  neighbor  has  fed  in  that  way  this  year, 
and  is  highly  pleased  with  it. 

(4.)  My  experience  is  limited;  am  not  ac- 
quainted with  different  kinds  of  worms. 

(5.)  Fed  on  multicaulis,  of  the  second 
year's  growth  ;  cut  leaves  for  a  time,  and 
then  fed  on  branches.  Cultivate  the  trees  ; 
trees  not  essentially  injured  in  the  winter, 
except  where  the  water  stood ;  head  them 
down  in  the  spring. 

The  production  of  silk,  in  this  country,  is 
of  the  utmost  importance ;  and,  from  what 
little  I  have  done  and  seen,  and  from  what  I 
have  read,  I  entertain  no  doubt  in  regard  to 
the  feasibility  of  the  matter.  We  can  do  it. 
Let  practical  information  be  disseminated  ex- 
tensively, and  it  will  be  done.  Hence  I  look 
with  great  interest  for  the  Report  of  the  Con- 
vention. 

REV.  JOHN  L.  RICHMOND,  Indianapolis, 
Indiana.  —  I  have  fed  worms  eight  years,  on 
a  small  scale;  have  fed  on  wild  mulberry 
most,  Italian,  and  some  multicaulis,  two 
years.  Have  found  them  to  live  best  on 
wild,  but  grow  slower.  They  died  most  on 
multicaulis,  other  circumstances  being  equal. 
Have  used  tight  and  open  rooms,  warm  and 
cold  rooms,  and  now  prefer  open  tents  or 


34 


LETTERS, 


buildings,  so  as-  to  let  them  have  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air.  We  fed  them  this  year  under 
an  open  shed,  which  even  leaked  so  that  my 
worms  got  wet  in  two  showers,  and  it  did 
them  little  or  no  harm. 

I  think  worms  may  be  fed  until  second 
moulting  on  multicaulis,  after  which  they 
feed  safer  on  the  Italian,  they  being  less  suc- 
culent. The  wild,  I  am  confident,  makes  the 
largest  cocoons  ;  but  i  think  a  coarser  fibre. 
I  concur  in  the  suggestions  made  by  Mr. 
McCarty,  in  the  above. 

DEWY  COLLINS,  Le  Roy,  JV.  Y.  —  Jn  an- 
swer to  the  questions  proposed,  I  would 
say  :  — 

(1.)  I  have  fed  four  years  with  good  suc- 
cess ;  first  year  1£  bushels  cocoons ;  second 
year  14£  bushels,  third  year  5£,  and  fourth  1 
bushel,  bad  success. 

(2.)  Common  room  in  a  dwelling-house ; 
temperature  not  regulated. 

(3.)  Have*never  fed  in  a  shed  or  tent. 

(4.)  The  two-crop  worm. 

(5.)  Multicaulis;  cultivate  by  letting  them 
stand  out  winters,  and  hoeing  them. 

(6.)  I  prefer  early  feeding ;  choose  to  hatch 
by  the  20th  of  June. 

ELIPHALE-B  MURDOCH,  Le  Roy,  JV.  F.  —  I 
have  fed  worms : 

(1 .)  Four  years,  as  follows  :  first  year, 
4£  bushels  cocoons ;  second  year,  no  suc- 
cess ;  third  year,  5  bushels ;  fourth  year,  10 
bushels. 

(2.)  Common  room  in  a  house. 

(3.)  No. 

(4.)  Two-crop,  and  the  pea-nut  variety. 

(5.)  Multicaulis. 

REV.  S.  C.  BRADFORD,  Sunderland,  Mass. 
—  I  have  had  some  experience  in  feeding 
worms  for  five  or  six  years.  My  first  efforts, 
made  in  the  usual  ways,  convinced  me  that 
results  must  be  unfavorable,  unless  better 
methods  could  be  devised,  labor  saved,  and 
the  health  of  the  worm  better  promoted.  I 
accordingly  set  myself  to  the  task  of  study- 
ing the  nature  of  the  thing,  and  came  speed- 
ily to  the  same  conclusions  with  Mr.  Gill,  of 
Ohio,  yourself,  and  others,  in  regard  to  ven- 
tilation. The  method  I  adopted  was  feeding 
on  open  work,  or  racks,  with  limbs  loosely  ar- 
ranged, to  secure  all  the  circulation  of  air  that 
could  be  procured  consistently  with  shield- 
ing them  from  the  sun.  To  save  further  la- 
bor, I  never  applied  a  hand  to  the  removal  of 
litter,  unless  I  found  it  souring  or  moulding, 
in  which  case  I  applied  one  hand  to  raise  the 
brush  on  which  the  worms  lay,  and  the  other 
to  pull  out  the  affected  litter,  and  apply  a 
handful  of  slacked  lime,  hard  salt,  or  plaster 
of  Paris.  They  wind  up  in  the  same  I 
find  the  result  as  stated  by  Mr.  Gill.  The 
artificial  modes  of  circulation  mentioned  by 
him  I  have  not  applied,  but  doubt  not  the 
utility  of  them. 

I  adopt  the  early  and  natural  season  of 
hatching  and  feeding,  from  eggs  lying  up  in 
a  cool  situation  during  the  season.  1  do  not 


choose  to  remove  them  at  all  from  the  stand 
on  which  they  were  first  deposited  by  the 
miller.  Nature  provides  ordinarily  for  the 
simultaneous  reproduction  of  the  insect,  and 
the  food  which  nourishes  it.  The  first  feed- 
ing, also,  I  supply  from  thick-sown  nurseries 
of  the  minor  sorts  of  trees,  as  whites,  Asiatics, 
&c.,  by  plucking  indiscriminately  the  first 
shoots  that  start  in  the  spring,  reserving  the 
larger  trees  and  heavier  foliage  for  the  ad- 
vancing stages  of  the  worm ;  advancing 
gradually  through  all  the  stages  from  shoots 
of  an  inch  to  three  or  four  feet,  as  the  case 
may  be.  I  find  the  shoots  as  favorable  to 
the  small  as  the  large  worm,  and  far  less  care 
and  labor  need  be  applied  in  the  moulting 
than  is  necessary  on  leavR  alone.  Indeed,  I 
pay  little  regard  to  the  moulting,  except  to 
take  that  occasion  to  spread  them,  at  the 
same  time  to  afford  them,  by  that  means, 
more  air. 

A  little  now,  on  the  subject  of  my  success, 
must  close  my  communication.  My  first 
success,  on  the  principles  above  stated,  was 
decidedly  favorable.  The  first  crop,  which 
was  obtained  in  1841,  between  the  planting 
of  my  corn  and  the  commencement  of  my 
haying,  from  some  few  ounces  of  eggs,  (I  was 
not  particular,  as  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of 
weighing,)  brought  me,  in  reeled  silk,  to- 
gether with  the  bounty  on  cocoons  and  reel- 
ing, the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  ttcenty  dol- 
lars in  cash,  after  making  liberal  provisions 
for  eggs,  by  applying  at  least  two  bushels 
of  my  best  cocoons  to  the  purpose.  Myself 
and  son  made  the  cocoons,  my  wife  and 
daughter  picked,  and  cured,  and  flossed  them, 
with  some  help  from  an  aged  mother,  who 
was  on  a  visit  with  us,  and  the  assistance  of 
two  days'  work  at  picking  from  a  neigh- 
boring woman.  My  daughter  reeled  them, 
as  her  first  effort,  on  a  reel,  &c.,  costing 
about  six  dollars.  On  a  rough  estimate,  I 
considered  my  profits  on  the  labor  of  fhe 
whole  to  be  one  hundred  per  cent.  My  suc- 
cess last  year  was  not  as  good,  owing  to  late 
frosts  in  the  spring.  This  threw  all  my 
operations  into  the  last  of  the  season.  Then 
by  very  close  cutting  my  trees,  I  injured  them 
for  this  year.  This,  together  with  another 
untimely  frost,  made  me  very  late  again  this 
year,  and  the  results,  as  they  generally  are 
in  late  feeding,  not  the  best.  Hereafter  I 
will  feed  early,  or  not  at  all. 

P.  S.  —  I  must  just  add,  that  I  have  the 
confidence  to  enlarge  my  silk  business,  be- 
lieving that  once  a  year's  early  feeding  and 
cropping  will  be  found  as  profitable  to  the 
farmer  as  any  other  part  of  his  business,  and 
not  diminish  the  amount  of  his  foliage  from 
year  to  year. 

EBENEZER    Woon,    Jefferson,    Asldalnila 

Co.,  Ohio.  —  1  have  fed  worms  for  five  years. 

Commenced  with  a  few  hundred,  with  no 

experience,    no   knowledge    but    reading  — 

gradually  learning  and  increasing  a  little,  till 

j  we   have  fed   about  fifty  thousand.     Made 

I  many  mistakes  at  first,  both  in  feeding  and 

i  reeling,  but  think  we  can  manage  the  whole 


LETTERS. 


35 


business  now  as  well  as  any  farm  crop.  First 
year,  made  a  fcw  good  cocoons,  but  lost  the 
silk  —  bad  reeling.  Second  year,  made  some 
good  cocoons  —  reeled  badly  on  a  common 
reel — made  into  sewing-silk  —  sold  for  $7. 
Third  year,  made  what  we  sold  for  $20 —  a 
good  article.  Fourth  year,  did  a  little  more. 
JLast,  or  fifth  year,  made  7£  pounds  reeled 
silk.  Said  by  judges  to  be  a  very  good 
article. 

Fed  in  an  out-building,  well  ventilated ;  used 
no  fire,  but  think  the  rooms  should  be  warmed 
in  cold  mornings  or  days.  Some  of  my  chil- 
dren put  a  few  worms  on  the  mulberries  out 
in  the  field  —  about  ten  days  after  this  called 
me  to  see  how  they  had  grown.  I  was  as- 
tonished to  see  the  difference  between  them 
and  those  in  the  building.  I  immediately 
put  out  some  more ;  they  did  well  for  a  few 
days,  till  the  birds  took  them.  They  were 
certainly  three  times  as  large.  We  feed  leaves, 
wet  or  dry,  according  to  circumstances.  In 
hot,  dry  weather,  we  wet  our  leaves  to  keep 
them  from  wilting  and  drying  up,  and  feed 
them  wet,  of  course.  I  have  given  this  hint 
about  wet  leaves,  for  I  think  it  is  a  matter 
that  should  be  understood. 

I  cannot  say  much  about  the  different 
kinds  of  silk-worms,  having  fed  only  sulphur 
variety.  Fed  from  the  multicaulis  mulberry. 
Cultivate  and  keep  them  clean.  Think  they 
have  passed  the  meridian  of  life  at  three  or 
four  years  old,  and  will  have  to  be  replaced 
with  new  ones. 

I  will  here  just  remark  that,  from  what 
experience  we  have  had,  I  have  no  doubt 
that,  witii  good  eggs,  worms  well  fed,  well 
ventilated,  and  well  limed,  we  may  be  as  sure 
of  a  good  crop  of  cocoons,  as  we  are  of  any 
good  farm  crop,  well  managed. 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  all  will  suc- 
ceed equally  well ;  that  is  not  the  case  in 
any  business.  There  are  many  causes  of 
failure.  Some  will  succeed,  some  will  not. 
But  I  see  I  am  giving  opinion  and  not  facts, 
arid  I  close. 

P.  S.  What  I  have  done  is  merely  an 
experiment  to  see  if  the  thing  is  practicable 
—  am  well  convinced  it  will  be  profitable  to 
thr»se  who  manage  rightly. 

I  have  for  several  years  read  every  thing  I 
could  oret  on  the  silk  business,  and  picked 
up  all  the  information  I  could  get  elsewhere. 
I  mention  this  that  you  may  see  I  shall  look 
with  much  anxiety  for  your  Report  —  intend, 
if  received,  it  shall  do  not  only  me  but  others, 
good.  [Right,  friend,  lend  it.  I.  R.  B.] 

SIMEON  PIERSON,  Le  Roy,  JV.  Y.  —  It  is 
thirty-seven  years  since  I  came  into  this 
country.  I  soon  found  the  native  mulberry 
growing  spontaneously,  which  led  me  to  be- 
lieve, as  I  now  do,  that  silk-worms  may  be 
grown  in  any  clime  where  the  mulberry 
grows  naturally ;  but  the  want  of  eggs  pre- 
vented my  making  any  experiment  till  about 
nine  years  ago.  I  then  obtained  some  eggs 
of  the  mammoth  sulphur  kind  ;  about  the 
same  time  I  obtained  some  of  the  white  Ital- 
ian mulberry-trees,  the  seed  of  which  was 


from  Middletown,  Conn. ;  and  previous  to 
their  growth  I  fed  worms  from  the  native 
mulberry ;  and  after  my  white  mulberry-trees 
were  grown  I  fed  on  both.  And  five  or  six 
years  ago  the  multicaulis  was  introduced  in 
town,  but  I  have  not  been  able,  to  this  time, 
to  discover  that  the  worms'  manifest  any 
preference,  or  show  any  partiality,  to  any 
one  kind.  My  wife  and  daughter,  for  amuse- 
ment and  experiment,  have  fed  a  few  thou- 
sand about  every  year  since  we  obtained  the 
eggs.  We  have  manufactured  considerable 
sewing-silk,  some  of  which  we  have  dyed 
different  colors,  which,  for  strength  and  lus- 
tre., would  not  suffer  in  comparison  with  the 
imported.  We  have  never  fed  but  one  crop 
in  a  season  ;  we  have  generally  commenced 
feeding  about  the  20th  of  June,  in  an  upper 
chamber,  a  tight  room.  After  learning  more 
of  their  customs  and  habits,  we  have  fed 
them  in  our  wood-house  chamber,  where 
there  was  more  air,  and  where  we  found 
they  did  equally  as  well.  We  found  they 
would  retire  from  the  light  of  a  window,  even 
in  a  cloudy  day.  We  nave  never  used  any 
artificial  heat.  I  believe  a  succession  of 
crops  may  be  fed  during  the  season,  by  com- 
mencing, say  about  the  20th  of  May,  and 
close  20th  of  September.  We  have  never 
lost  a  crop  from  any  cause,  but  I  know  of 
some  who  have. 

N.  B.  Being  too  old  and  feeble  to  attend 
the  Convention,  I  have  yielded  to  the  request 
of  several  gentlemen  by  writing  as  I  have. 

JOSEPH  STEER,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio.  —  Uses  the  shed  and  cradle  — 
says  he  has  produced  his  cocoons  at  less  than 
one  half -the  expense*  of  former  modes  of 
feeding  —  has  made  in  this  way,  this  year, 
upwards  of  40  bushels  of  first-rate  pea-nuts. 

JNO.  K.  NORTON,  Bonn,  Salem  P.  0., 
Ohio.  —  Writing  to  find  a  sale  for  cocoons, 
says  that  there  have  been  about  one  hundred 
bushels  raised  in  his  neighborhood  the  pres- 
ent season. 

J.  LINTON,  P.  M.,  East  Bethlehem,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Penn.  —  Has  fed  10  to  12  bush- 
els —  uses  the  white  Italian,  and  multicaulis 
—  wants  a  market  for  cocoons  —  a  trouble 
in  many  other  places. 

JOHN  BOYDEN,  Brooklyn,  Cuyahoga  Co., 
Ohio.  —  I  am  a  silk-grower  on  a  small  scale, 
connected  with  other  farming,  and  will  en- 
deavor to  answer  the  several  questions  pro- 
posed. 1st.  Have  fed  worms  for  eight  years, 
the  first  four  years  by  way  of  experiment; 
since  that  on  a  larger  scale.  We  have  been 
successful  every  year  excepting  the  first, 
which  was  a  total  failure.  2d.  Our  building 
is  nothing  more  than  a  common  barn,  with  the 
cracks  linpd  with  thin  boards ;  the  tempera- 
ture is  regulated  by  stoves.  3d.  Never  fed  in 
an  open  shed  or  tent.  4th.  We  prefer  the  pea- 
nut variety  to  any  other  we  are  acquainted 
with.  5th.  We  use  the  multicaulis,  planted 
in  drills,  cultivated,  and  kept  clear  -of  weeds. 


36 


LETTERS. 


6th.  Early  feeding  is  preferable  to  late, 
though  we  often  feed  as  late  as  the  10th  of 
September  with  good  success.  7th.  The 
cause  of  bad  success  in  feeding  is,  1  believe, 
in  not  properly  ventilating,  and  inattention  in 
feeding  and  cleaning,  bth.  Cannot  answer 
this  question,  it  being  out  of  my  line  of  busi- 
ness. 9th.  Have  not  tried  the  process  of 
dew,  or  water-rotting,  but  will  try  it  this  sea- 
son, and  communicate  next. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  remark,  that  I  feel 
no  desire  at  present  to  discontinue  growing 
silk;  it  is  certainly  a  profitable  branch  of 
business  to  me.  The  avails  of  my  silk  ope- 
rations are  about  equal  to  those  of  the  farm. 
It  makes  employment  for  my  whole  family. 

1  will  now  state  my  manner  of  feeding  and 
treatment  of  the  worm.  We  hatch  them  as 
early  in  the  season  as  will  answer,  and  feed 
them  on  the  tender  leaves  till  they  have 
moulted  the  second  or  third  time,  when  we 
commence  feedinor  with  branches ;  that  is, 
we  cut  the  trees  down  to  the  ground  —  the 
trees  having  been  cut  to  the  ground  the 
previous  spring  — then  take  them  into  a  com- 
mon straw-cutter,  and  cut  them  three  or  four 
inches  long,  brandies,  leaves,  and  all.  These 
we  feed  to  the  worms.  Trees  can  be  cut 
twice  in  the  season,  but  once  is  about  suffi- 
cient for  the  health  of  the  tree.  I  should 
recommend,  after  the  first  cutting,  to  pick 
the  leaves  the  rest  of  the  season.  Two  crops 
of  worms  can  be  raised  with  ease,  and  I  have 
raised  five.  We  have  no  feeding  frames  or 
hurdles ;  we  feed  on  the  board  shelf,  and 
shift  our  worms  by  means  of  branches. 

1  likewise  consider  the  silk  crop  a  sure 
crop :  in  eight  years  I  have  failed  but  once, 
and  that  was  easily  accounted  for- — inexpe- 
rience in  feeding.  Keep  your  shelves  well 
cleansed,  the  cocoonery  well  regulated  as  to 
heat  and  air,  and  plenty  of  fresh  foliage  on 
them,  and  I  can  safely  say,  a  failure  will  not 
often  occur. 

SILAS  C.  CLARK,  Sliarpshurgh,  Mleghany 
County,  Pa.  —  My  experience  in  the  silk 
business  commenced  the  present  season. 
The  mulberries  at  my  command  consisted  of 
about  two  and  a  half  acres  of  multicaulis. 
The  lot  of  eggs  designed  for  successive 
crops  of  worms  during  the  summer  had 
been  deposited  in  an  ice-house  for  preserva- 
tion. On  opening  the  box  on  the  17th  of 
June,  in  order  to  expose  a  portion  of  the 
eggs,  the  whole  were  found  to  have  hatched, 
and  the  little  worms,  apparently  a  day  or 
two  old,  were  generally  in  a  state  of  great 
activity.  The  box  had  been  accidentally 
placed  above  and  a  little  remote  from  the  ice. 
Hence  the  misfortune.  However,  I  imme- 
diately commenced  feeding.  For  a  cocoonery, 
I  occupied  an  open  building,  in  which  there 
was  a  free  circulation  of  air,  corresponding 
•and  varying  with  the  surrounding  atmos- 
phere. No  artificial  heat  was  used,  and  no 
effort  was  made  to  regulate  the  state  of  the 
temperature,  which  ranged  from  fifty-six  to 
ninety -two  degrees. 

Jn  the  result,  I  have  little  of  which  to 


boast,  although  nearly  meeting  my  expecta- 
tions. That  the  mariner  of  hatching  engen- 
dered disease  among  a  portion  of  the  worms, 
can  hardly  be  doubted.  Still,  but  a  compar- 
atively small  number  of  the  worms  was 
sickly,  and  a  yield  of  about  sixty  pounds  of 
cocoons  to  an  ounce  of  eggs  was  realized. 
However,  another  loss,  chargeable  to  inexpe- 
rience, was  subsequently  sustained,  through 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  stifle  the  chrysalis 
by  the  use  of  camphor.  The  eggs  for  the 
next  crop  —  of  a  species  called,  I  think,  the 
Canton  pea-nut  —  were  procured  in  North- 
ampton, Massachusetts.  These  hatched  on 
the  way;  and,  for  the  want  of  mulberry 
leaves,  the  worms  were  fed  a  day  or  two  on 
lettuce.  Subsequently,  they  were  tended 
and  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  the  previ- 
ous crop.  During  their  fourth  and  fifth  ages, 
a  large  portion  of  them  became  diseased 
with  the  yellows;  and  this  effort  proved  al- 
most a  total  failure.  The  very  few  worms, 
however,  which  came  to  maturity  produced 
cocoons  of  an  excellent  quality.  With  an 
ardor  stimulated  by  an  unabated  solicitude 
for  the  character  of  the  business,  1  resolved 
on  making  another  experiment. 

I  procured  an  ounce  and  a  half  of  eggs  of 
the  common  pea-nut  variety,  and  commenced 
feeding  on  the  15th  of  August.  By  means 
of  artificial  heat  in  my  open  building,  I 
strove  to  keep  the  temperature  of  the  co- 
coonery above  sixty-eight  degrees ;  in  several 
instances,  however,  without  success.  Sev- 
eral times  the  thermometer  fell  to  sixty.  I 
fed  regularly  seven  or  eight  times  per  day, 
once  in  from  two  to  three  hours,  and  never 
permitting  more  than  five  or  six  hours  at 
most  to  elapse  between  feedings,  even  during 
the  night.  Through  the  first  four  ages  the 
worms  were  fed  with  cut  leaves,  subsequent- 
ly with  branches. 

With  the  assistance  of  my  lady,  I  did  the 
whole  work  of  the  cocoonery,  and  every 
thing  appertaining  to  the  feeding,  excepting 
the  gathering  of  leaves  after  the  third  moult- 
ing, the  expense  of  which  amounted  to 
about  five  dollars.  In  twenty-four  days  from 
the  first  hatching,  the  worms  began  to  form 
their  cocoons.  At  this  juncture,  the  weather, 
which  had  been  very  favorable,  became  sud- 
denly cold  —  so  much  so,  that  I  was  unable  to 
keep  the  temperature  much  above  sixty,  in 
parts  of  the  cocoonery  'remote  from  the 
stove,  without  doing  injury  to  the  worms  in 
closer  proximity.  The  cold  state  of  the 
temperature  at  this  critical  period,  in  my 
opinion,  not  onlv  retarded  the  progress  of 
their  spinning,  but,  in  a  greater  or  less  de- 
gree, tended  to  diminish  the  amount  and 
value  of  their  products.  However,  in  this 
instance,  the  worms  kept  near  the  stove,  in  a 
high  and  more  uniform  temperature,  evident 
ly  produced  the  larger  and  better  cocoons 
Still,  very  few  were  sickly,  and  the  product 
of  this  crop  amounted  to  ten  bushels,  or  one 
hundred  and  thirty-three  pounds  of  good 
cocoons. 

With  good  eggs  and  plenty  of  room,  and 
other  conveniences,  I  should  now  undertake 


LETTERS. 


37 


to  raise  a  healthy  crop  of  worms,  with  as 
much  confidence  of  success  as  I  should  a  cor- 
responding number  of  any  animals  whatever. 
Ci.i  dullness  seems  to  me  indispensable  to  the 
healthfulness  of  worms.  One  thought  more  : 
Whoever  engages  in  this  business  without 
experience,  and  makes  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements for  a  single  season,  with  the  ex- 
pectation of  making,  during  that  time,  a 
fortune,  or  even  of  gaining  a  full  remunera- 
tion for  his  time  and  expenditures,  will  be 
likely  to  be  disappointed.  Still,  if  it  be  per- 
severingly  and  judiciously  prosecuted,  I  en- 
tertain an  unshaken  and  settled  confidence 
in  the  ultimate  and  triumphant  success  of 
the  silk  business  in  this  country.  I  cannot 
doubt  that  the  business  is  destined  shortly  to 
become  a  great  and  important  "branch  of 
national  industry,  and  a  vast  and  inexhaust- 
ible source  of  national  wealth. 

PLINV  SAFFORD,  P.  M.,  Westminster,  Vt. 
—  I  have  fed  silk- worms  in  a  very*  small 
way  for  two  or  three  years  past.  I  have  a 
few  mulberry-trees,  partly  multicaulis  and 
partly  alpine.  I  feed  about  two  weeks  on 
multicaulis,  after  which,  or  after  the  second 
moulting,  I  put  them  on  the  alpine.  My 
cocoonery  is  a  part  of  rny  barn  which  I  use 
for  a  carriage- house. 

On  the  27th  of  last  May,  I  took  some  eggs 
from  the  ice-house  and  placed  them  in  a  cool 
room.  They  hatched  June  21st,  22d,  and 
23d. 

On  the  4th  day  of  August,  I  took  down 
eighteen  pounds  of  cocoons,  which  yielded 
one  and  a  half  pounds  of  reeled  silk. 

July  1st,  I  took  some  eggs  from  the  ice, 
which  came  out  on  the  13th,  14th,  and  15th. 
September  1st,  I  picked  fifteen  pounds  of 
poor  cocoons,  which  reeled  half  a  pound  of 
silk. 

My  first  crop  were  healthy,  but  the  second 
were  sickly. 

ROSWELL  RICE,  Charlemont,  Franklin  Co., 
Mass.  —  We  consider  the  silk  business  a 
noble  one  ;  therefore,  if  we  can,  by  sending 
in  our  statement,  small  though  it"  be,  yield 
any  assistance  or  encouragement,  we  gladly 
do  it.  In  answer  to  questions  :  — 

1st.  We  have  fed  worms  six  seasons,  and 
our  labors,  each  year,  have  been  crowned 
with  success. 

2d.  Feed  in  a  close  building,  regulate  the 
temperature  by  artificial  heat,  the  mercury 
standing  at  seventy-five  or  eighty  degrees. 

3d.  Have  never  fed  in  an  open  tent  or 
shed  Did  we  live  in  a  latitude  where  no 
chilly  blasts  were  ever  felt,  but  all  were 
warm  and  pleasant  as  a  sunny  day  in  July, 
we  might  feed  in  tents,  but  we  think  the 
rigors  of  this  our  northern  clime  are  too  se- 
vere for  the  silk- worm  to  endure. 

4th.  We  prefer,  above  all  other  kinds,  the 
pea-nut  worm  ;  consider  the  texture  finer,  and 
the  yield  greater. 

5th.  We  use  the  multicaulis  and  white 
mulberry.  The  white  in  the  early  part  of 
the  season, before  the  others  are  grown.  Cut 


the  tops  from  the  multicaulis-trees  in  the  fall, 
and  leave  the  roots  in  the  ground. 

6th.  Have  fed  both  in  the  early  and  late 
part  of  the  season,  and  our  success  in  each 
is  equally  good. 

7th.  As~to  the  causes  of  bad  success  in 
feeding,  we  know  NO  NEED  of  having  bad 
success.  We  always  keep  our  room  w(trmt 
feed  as  often  as  the  worms  will  take  leaves, 
and  attend  well  to  cleanliness;  and,  by  so 
doing,  the  worms  are  all  in  the  bushes  to 
wind  in  four  weeks  from  the  time  of  hatch- 
ing. If  this  seems  in  any  degree  incredible, 
please  try  it,  and  see. 

Hth.  Have  not  tested  the  use  of  the  mul- 
berry-leaf for  paper ;  our  means  are  small  and 
inadequate. 

9lh.  We  have  never  tried  to  separate  the 
bark  from  the  young  shoots,  to  convert  it 
into  paper  or  fabrics. 

Our  only  crop  this  season  amounted  to 
one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  of  cocoons. 
1  consider  the  silk  business  one  well  worthy 
the  attention  of  our  New  England  farmers ; 
and  I  believe  it  is  one  which  will  yield  a 
much  better  profit  than  ordinary  agricultu- 
ral production. 

FRANCIS  D.  WAIT,  CantwelVs  Bridge,  Del- 
aware. —  I  am  a  silk-grower,  and  will  pro- 
ceed to  answer  the  first  series  of  your  ques- 
tions. I  should  be  extremely  happy,  had  I 
funds  to  spare,  to  come  on  to  your  city ;  but 
am  too  poor  —  the  fate,  I  am  afraid,  of  many 
growers.  I  was  induced,  in  1838,  by  repre- 
sentations made  on  every  side,  of  the  great 
profits  resulting  from  the  culture  of  silk,  to 
enter  upon  it,  and  have  fed  worms  every 
year,  from  that  time  to  this,  in  increasing 
quantities.  The  past  season  I  raised  nearly 
six  hundred  pounds  of  cgpoons. 

In  answer  to  the  second  question,  I  will 
state,  that,  in  1838,  I  put  up  a  building 
twenty-five  by  twenty-eight  fe«t,  two  stories 
high,  and  a  good  cellar,  which  is  absolutely 
indispensable.  I  fed  two  or  three  years  at 
the  natural  temperature  ;  since  then,  I  have 
used  artificial  heat,  I  think,  to  great  ad- 
vantage. I  have  a  furnace  in  the  cellar, 
from  which  heated  air  rises  through  th« 
building. 

A  gradually  increased  temperature  is  par- 
ticularly necessary  in  hatching  the  eggs.  In 
this  way,  eggs  may  be  hatched  in  two,  and 
not  exceeding  three  days;  whereas  at  the 
natural  temperature  several  days  more  will 
be  required ;  and  one  year,  I  recollect,  the 
eggs  ceased  hatching  in  consequence  of  a 
cold  north-east  storm,  when  a  great  reduction 
of  temperature  took  place. 

The  last  four  years  I  have  used  only  two 
varieties  of  worms  —  the  sulphur  and  the 
pea-nut.  The  first  year  I  raised  some  of  the 
mammoth  white  and  the  two-crop,  and  re- 
jected them  both.  With  regard  to  the  first 
two  varieties  I  have  to  state  that 'in  1842, 
when  I  first  noted  the  difference,  it  took  4400 
pea-nut  cocoons  to  make  a  bushel,  and  2200 
of  sulphur  to  make  a  bushel.  From  the  first 
I  obtained  22  ounces  of  raw  silk,  and  from 


38 


LETTERS. 


the  last  14  ounces  of  raw  silk.  The  pea-nut 
cocoons  per  bushel  weighed  15  pounds,  the 
sulphur  per  bushel  weighed  9£  pounds.  It 
took  about  300  pea-nuts  to  weigh  a  pound, 
and  about  240  sulphur  to  weigh  a  pound. 
From  these  facts  you  perceive  that,  worm  for 
worm,  I  obtained  more  silk  from  the  sulphur 
than  1  did  from  the  pea-nut.  The  4400  pea- 
nut cocoons  yielded  22  ounces  of  raw  silk, 
and  the  4400  sulphur  yielded  28  ounces  of 
raw  silk.  The  past  season  the  cocoons  were 
about  in  the  same  ratio.  With  regard  to  the 
product  in  silk  I  cannot  say,  for  1  have  not 
reeled  them. 

1  use  the  multicaulis  nearly  altogether.  I 
have  a  hedge  of  white  mulberry-trees  upon 
which  I  feed  the  worms  during  the  first  age, 
cut  very  fine.  The  past  season,  as  well  as 
before,  I  cut  down  the  trees,  took  them  to 
the  cellar  and  there  stripped  them,  when  I  fed 
with  leaves,  otherwise  cut  off  the  branches 
and  fed  with  them,  which  is  far  preferable. 
In  feeding  with  leaves  I  use  the  paper  net, 
which  is  far  superior  to  every  other  contriv- 
ance. Nearly  all  the  worms  will  ascend 
through  them  the  first  feeding,  so  that  you 
change  them  every  day  at  farthSht.  Feeding 
on  branches,  however,  is  preferable  on  every 
account.  Less  expensive,  less  trouble, 
worms  more  healthy,  and  of  course  obtain 
more  silk. 

The  experience  of  silk-growers,  so  far  as  I 
have  ascertained,  is  in  favor  of  early  feeding. 
I  believe,  however,  that  two  good  crops  can 
be  raised,  particularly  if  you  have  artificial 
heat,  which  is  more  especially  demanded  at 
the  beginning  of  the  first  crop.  My  first 
crop  was  hatched  onjjie  23d  and  24th  of  May, 
and  consisted  of  5  ounces  of  eggs;  wound  up 
in  32  days;  obtained  413  pounds  of  cocoons; 
ought  to  have  had^ind  should  have  had  500 
pounds,  could  I  have  fed  at  9  o'clock,  F.  M., 
as  I  always  had  done,  but  was  prevented,  for 
fear  that  my  boys  would  set  the  straw,  which 
I  used  as  a  bed  for  the  worms,  on  fire.  On 
the  4th  of  July,  on  going  to  the  ice-house  to 


but  in  this  unfavorable  condition  I  took  them 
out  and  fed  them,  and  gathered  153  pounds 
of  cocoons.  I  received  some  eggs  on  the 
17th  of  August,  which  had  been  left  in  an 
ice-house.  On  the  18th  they  began  to  hatch. 
I  suppose  that  I  had  as  many  worms  as  I  had 
at  my  second  crop,  but  obtained  only  10i  Ibs. 
of  cocoons.  They  nearly  all  died  ;  still,  I  had 
some  as  good  cocoons  as  1  ever  had. 

1  am  the  only  one  feeding  in  this  part  of 
the  country. 

1  have  generally  obtained  100  pounds  of 
cocoons  from  an  ounce  of  eggs. 

I  believe  that  50  or  60  dollars  may  be  had, 
clear  profit,  for  every  acre  of  mulberries. 

I  have  on  hand  30  or  40  pounds  of  raw  silk, 
which  1  find  great  difficulty  in  disposing  of. 
There  is  no  market  for  it  in  Philadelphia  that 
I  know  of.  And  to  send  it  to  New  York  is 
uncertain  and  inconvenient. 

Our  State  gives  a  bounty  of  two  dollars  on 


the  pound  of  reeled  silk  — 15  cents  per  Ib. 
on  cocoons.  I  think  20  cents  per  pound 
would  pay  the  expense  of  raising  them.  1 
anticipate  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  in  reading 
the  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  and  hope 
the  result  will  be  auspicious  to  the  growth 
and  manufacture  of  silk  in  this  country. 

JOSEPH  BENCNLEY,  JVewjporf,  Herkimer  Co., 
New  York.  —  I  have  fed  silk- worms  six  years, 
generally  in  small  numbers.  This  is  the  first 
year  I  have  fed  wholly  from  the  multicaulis. 
My  cocoons  did  better  than  the  same  kind 
did  last  year,  fed  on  white  mulberry.  Name 
of  the  worm,  Mirable  Jaune,  Nankin  color, 
and  Sina  Mirable,  white  :  the  best  success  I 
ever  had  was  with  worms  I  got  from  Mr. 
Bean,  of  Philadelphia,  a  small  pea-nut-shaped 
cocoon.  He  called  them  Sina  Nankin.  This 
year  my  worms  did  not  do  as  well  as  last  — 
I  hatched  the  middle  of  July;  last  year  the 
latter  part  of  June.  I  fed  in  chambers,  with 
no  chance  of  ventilating  to  my  mind;  and 
about  the  time  of  winding,  in  August,  we  had 
one  week  of  very  warm  and  very  wet  weath- 
er, with  no  air  stirring,  and  one  half  of  my 
worms  died. 

I  have  always  manufactured  my  cocoons 
into  sewing-silk.  I  reel  them  myself,  and 
my  wife  or  hired  girl  twists,  and  doubles  and 
twists  it  on  a  common  spinning-wheel.  1 
send  you  a  few  threads  which  are  no  better 
than  all  I  make.  A  lady  of  this  place  pur- 
chased of  me  silk  for  a  pair  of  stockings;  she 
took  it  to  the  stocking-weaver  of  Utica,  who 
pronounced  it  a  superior  article,  as  good  as 
he  ever  saw,  and  he  learned  his  trade  in  Eng- 
land. The  stockings  were  as  handsome  as  1 
ever  saw,  and  so  said  others. 

In  the  spring  of  1842,  I  planted  2000  mul- 
ticaulis-trees,  which  I  brought  from'  Ohio,  in 
rows  six  feet  apart,  and  trees  two  feet  apart 
in  the  row.  I  then  took  limbs  from  the  same, 
and  placed  them  so  the  ends  touched,  in  drills 
the  same  distance  apart,  6  feet.  In  the  fall  I 
had  about  ten  thousand  in  all,  on  one  and  a 
half  acres  I  let  them  stand  as  they  were, 
without  any  protection.  I  believe  every  tree 
sprcuted  last  spring,  and  the  10th  of  June 
the  young  shoots  were  killed,  to  the  old  wood, 
by  frost.  They  recovered,  grew  rapidly,  and 
have  matured  their  wood  nearly  to  the  top, 
and  are  now  shedding  their  leaves  without 
frost.  Many  of  them  are  six  feet  high.  I 
know  them  to  be  as  hardy  as  the  white,  and 
the  finest  cocoons  I  ever  saw  were  produced 

S  worms  fed  wholly  on  multicaulis,  by  Mr. 
app,  Dr.  Matthews,  and  others,  at  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio. 

With  a  cocoonery  in  the  midst  of  rny  trees, 
I  believe  I  can  attend  two  hundred  thousand 
worms  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  middle 
of  September,  with  children  to  pick  and  bring 
in  the  leaves. 

When  we  see  multicaulis-trees,  from  limbs 
planted  in  May,  (of  course,  do  not  strike  root 
and  begin  to  grow  till  June,)  withstand  such 
a  winter  as  1^42-3,  and  this  in  the  north  of 
Herkimer  Co.,  we  may  ask,  What  part  of  our 
country  cannot  produce  silk  ? 


LETTERS. 


SAMUEL  BARRETT,  French  Creek,  Lewis 
Co.,  Va. — I  have  fed  worms,  or  attempted 
to  feed  them,  for  three  years.  June,  1641,  I 
received  by  mail  one  ounce  of  eggs  from  Gi- 
deon B.  Smith,  of  Baltimore,  editor  of  the 
American  Silk  Journal.  They  were  of  the 
variety  which  he  called  the  Mirable  Jaunes, 
and  which  he  pronounced  the  best  kind.  1 
fed  in  the  loft  of  a  log  building,  with  only 
one  window,  and  a  door  on  the  same  side  of 
the  room  ;  the  room  was  otherwise  tolerably 
tight.  Underneath  was  a  cooking-stove,  daily 
used  in  cooking  for  the  family.  This,  togeth- 
er with  the  extremely  warm  weather,  or  some 
other  cause,  produced  unhealthiness  in  the 
worms,  and  I  lost  the  most  of  them.  The 
close  manner  in  which  they  were  kept  was 
sufficient,  in  my  own  mind,  to  account  for 
this  result.  In  1842,  I  lost  all  my  eggs  in 
the  spring  by  the  rats  unluckily  getting  at 
them.  This  year  I  wrote  to  G.  B.  Smith,  of 
Baltimore,  to  send  me  a  small  quantity  by 
mail;  on  the  first  of  August,  they  arrived  at 
Clarkesburg,  a  distance  of  260  miles,  in 'ex- 
treme warm  weather.  They  had  just  com- 
menced hatching  when  they  arrived.  They 
proved  a  healthy  lot,  and  made  me  36£  Ibs. 
cocoons.  They  were  of  the  Mirable  Jaunes 
variety,  or  a  cross  breed  of  the  pea-nut,  and 
some  other  valuable  kind.  My  cocoonery 
was  a  building  erected  by  putting  forks  in 
the  ground  —  laying  poles  in  these  forks  to 
support  the  roof,  covering  the  roof  with  boards 
and  slabs,  and  the  sides  with  rough  boards 
loosely  nailed  on.  It  was  20  by  16  feet. 
During  feeding  it  was  my  object  to  keep  a 
stream" of  pure  air  sweeping  through  the  co- 
coonery, by  opening  all  the  windows  and  the 
doors.  Besides  this,  I  knocked  off  several 
boards  from  my  building,  in  different  places, 
that  the  air  might  have  a  free  circulation  in 
every  part.  This  I  could  perceive  had  a  fine 
effect  on  the  worms. 

I  have  principally  fed  on  the  Canton  mul- 
berry, with  a  few  of  the  multicaulis,  and  the 
Italian.  I  once  fed  a  small  lot  on  each  of 
the  three  kinds:  the  multicaulis,  the  Canton, 
and  the  Italian.  The  lots  were  all  equally 
healthy,  and  the  worms  had  no  preference 
for  either.  After  the  first  year's  growth  from 
the  cuttings  or  larger  trees,  I  have  let  them 
run  their  chance  through  the  winter.  The 
tops  have  generally  been  killed  with  the 
frost ;  'but  the  most  of  the  roots  have  lived, 
except  on  /o?o,  frosty  grounds,  where  a  con- 
siderable number  have  died.  The  Canton 
tree,  so  far  as  my  experience  has  extended, 
has  proved  more  hardy  than  the  multicaulis  ; 
the  leaf  is  thicker  and  heavier,  and  they 
grow  thicker  on  the  stalk.  On  a  given  piece 
of  ground,  I  have  thought  the  greatest 
weight  of  leaves  could  be  obtained  from  the 
Canton. 

One  of  my  neighbors  fed  a  lot  of  worms 
this  season,  in  June  and  July.  He  hatched 
about  two  ounces  of  eggs,  producing  from  60 
to  100,000  worms  He  had  not  foliage  enough 
to  feed  one  fourth  of  that  number.  His  room 
for  feeding  was  a  small  chamber  in  his  dwell- 
ing-house, about  14  feet  by  12,  and  not  capa- 


ble of  containing  more  than  250  feet  of  shelv- 
ing, which,  at  the  most,  ought  not  to  contain 
over  10,000  worms.  1  advised  him  to  throw 
away  7-8ths  of  his  worms,  and  warned  him 
of  the  consequence,  if  he  did  not.  Having 
ted  a  small  lot  last  year  with  good  success, 
and  being  one  of  those  men  who  choose  to 
have  their  own  way,  he  determined  to  try 
his  luck  with  the  whole  lot.  He  ransacked 
the  neighborhood  and  the  woods  for  leaves, 
but  all  in  vain;  at  about  two  weeks'  old  they 
became  diseased,  and  he  lost  the  whole  lot. 
His  eggs  were  good,  and  his  worms  perfectly 
healthy,  till  about  the  third  age,  when  they 
became  suffocated.  I  have  found,  on  close 
observation,  that  nothing  imparts  such  vigor 
to  the  worms  as  a  good,  dry  breeze  of  air. 
Even  a  damp  breeze  is  far  better  than  a  sul- 
try, confined  air.  I  intend  to  build  a  cocoon- 
ery another  season,  and  locate  it  on  a  rising 
ground,  where  the  air  will  circulate  freely. 
In  regard  to  the  silk  cause  in  general,  I  have 
always  had  confidence  in  its  success.  About 
four  years  ago,  1  laid  out  about  $160  for  cut- 
tings to  commence  an  orchard  with.  I.  lost 
the  greatest  share  of  them.  Since  that  time 
I  have  kept  on  increasing  them,  down  to  the 
present  year.  Some  of  my  neighbors  tell  me 
i  had  better  grub  them  up.  1  tell  them  no  > 
they  may  yet  want  to  purchase  them  of  me 
for  orchards  of  their  own.  Feeding  worms 
has  been  no  new  thing  with  me.  When  1 
was  a  boy,  my  sisters,  several  in  number,  fed 
silk-worms,  from  my  recollection,  my  father 
having  planted  an  orchard  of  Italian  trees  ort 
his  first  settlement  in  Hampden  County,, 
Mass.  Several  brothers  of  us  used  to  pick 
leaves  for  our  sisters.  They  always  had  suc- 
cess. I  never  heard  of  their  crop  being  un- 
healthy, or  losing  it.  They  thought  it  no- 
more  difficulty  to  raise  a  crop  of  worms  than 
a  crop  of  chickens. 

NOAH  B.  HART,  Batavia,  JY*.  F.,  for  him- 
self, arid  ELIJAH  HKRRICK,  Bethany;  WOR- 
DEN  MATISON,  Darien  ;  and  WM.  TELDEN,, 
Le  Roy,  says  :  — 

At  the  State  Fair,  at  Rochester,  we  had  a 
hurried  Convention  of  a  part  of  the  silk- 
growers  present,  and  sent  you  some  state- 
ments of  our  successes.  [1  am  sorry  to  say 
that  the  document  here  referred  to  has  not 
been  received.  I.  R.  B.]  There  were  fine 
specimens  of  silk  exhibited  on  that  occasion* 

I  am  authorized  to  say  that,  amidst  our 
successes  and  losses,  our  good  moves  and 
bad  moves,  we  are  all  determined  to  perse- 
vere, fully  satisfied  that  the  silk  business  has 
a  solid  basis  to  stand  upon ;  and  all  that  is 
wanting  to  secure  full  success  in  feeding 
worms  is  practical  knowledge,  and  appro- 
priate facilities  :  the  same  precisely  as  in  any 
thing  and  every  thing  else. 

We  have  mostly  fed  in  OUT  dwelling- 
houses  and  out-houses,  and  generally  on  the 
multicaulis. 

I  send  you  a  sample  of  the  raw  silk  that 
took  the  premium  at  the  Fair  at  Rochester, 
and  also  a  sample  of  sewing-silk  made  since 
the  Fair  from  some  of  the  premium  silk. 


LETTERS. 


[This  raw  silk  is  a  fine  article.  I.  R.  B.]  We 
have  had  a  great  deal  to  contend  with,  in  our 
efforts  in  this  business  :  want  of  experience, 
wrong  information,  prejudice,  and  ridicule, 
from  the  unbelieving  multitude,  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  laugh  at  what  they  have  not 
themselves  the  energy  to  attempt.  But 
the  tables  are  now  turned  and  turning,  and 
we  are  animated  to  see  the  manifestations 
of  the  change,  here  as  well  as  elsewhere. 

REV.  JOSEPH  FIELD,  Charlemonl,  Mass. — 
My  experience  in  raising  silk  commenced  in 
1833.  For  a  number  of  years  my  worms 
were  fed  in  rooms  not  adapted  to  good  ven- 
tilation, nor  for  being  artificially  warmed. 
Small  crops  were  ordinarily  obtained  with 
various  degrees  of  success.  Five  or  six 
years  since  I  erected  a  cocoonery,  40  feet  by 
!£2,  a  story  from  the  ground,  extending  north 
and  south  ;  three  windows  on  the  east  side, 
and  as  many  on  the  west  directly  opposite, 
and  two  with  a  door  in  the  north  end,  a  door 
at  the  other  end  opening  into  another  apart- 
ment somewhat  open,  and  capable  of  being 
filled  with  breezes  from  the  west.  [This  room 
is  altogether  too  close.  I.  R.  B.]  In  this  room, 
prepared  with. shelves  running  from  one  end 
to  the  other,  and  the  walls  made  tight  by 
plaster,  my  worms  have  been  reared  for  sev- 
eral years,  with  little  use  of  artificial  heat. 
My  daughters,  who  had  the  care  of  feeding 
the  worms,  became  convinced,  by  a  gradual- 
ly increased  use  of  the  stove,  that  such  an 
article  was  very  important  in  an  expeditious 
and  sucoessfuf  raising  of  cocoons.  Accord- 
ingly, the  present  year  we  introduced  a 
stove,  by  which .  any  degree  of  temperature 
could  be  raised  and  maintained,  and  care  was 
taken  to  keep  it  up  as  high  as  80.  Sweet, 
pure  air  is  necessary,  and  must  be  obtained 
by  ventilation,  if  necessary  ;  but  dryness  and 
heat  are  indispensable  to  secure  healthiness, 
speedy  growth,  and  desirable  fruitfulness  to 
the  silk-worm.  It  is  often  necessary  to  ele- 
vate, but  never  to  depress  the  temperature, 
while  all  impurities  are  carefully  excluded 
from  the  atmosphere. 

FRANCIS  MOOR,  Putney,  Vt.,  says  :  —  I 
commenced  growing  silk,  as  a  business,  sev- 
eral years  since,  having  a  slender  constitu- 
tion and  poor  health.  The  tree  speculation 
came.  To  better  my  circumstances,  I  en- 
gaged in  it,  and  lost  what  little  I  had.  Still 
I  have  kept  doing  something  at  growing  silk  ; 
have  about  three  acres  of  trees,  multicaulis, 
Cantons,  Asiatics,  and  Alpines.  1  have  fed 
early  and  late,  used  the  different  kinds  of 
worms,  and  kept  eggs  in  all  the  different 
ways,  and  fed  in  close  and  open  buildings.  I 
prefer  early  feeding,  though  sometimes  make 
good  crops  late.  As  a  system  for  general 
adoption,  open  feeding  is  safest.  Trees  ought 
not  to  be  so  thick  as  to  prevent  the  sun  from 
reaching  the  leaves,  and  the  air  to  circulate 
freely  among  them.  In  1840,  I  made  121 
Ibs.  5oz  ;  1841,  494  Ibs.  j  1842, 161  Ibs.  4  oz.; 
1843,  108  Ibs.  5  oz. 


MOSES  E.  GUILD,  South  Dcdham,  Mass. — 
I  received  your  Silk  Circular  per  mail,  dated 
Aug.  28,  and  am  exceedingly  happv  to  learn 
that  measures  are  to  be  taken  in  behalf  of 
this  important  branch  of  agriculture.  It  not 
being  possible  for  me  to  attend  the  Conven- 
tion, will  communicate  by  mail  what  little 
information  I  may  be  master  of. 

Have  fed  worms  two  years  ;  the  results 
have  been  unfavorable,  owing  to  inexperience. 
This  year  lost  most  of  my  worms  by  over- 
stocking my  trees.  Fed  in  a  perfectly  open 
building,  giving  the  worms  a  thorough  ven- 
tilation in  all  sorts  of  weather.  They  did  ex- 
traordinarily well  until  my  foliage  failed.  I 
prefer  the  large  sulphur  and  pea-nut  worms. 
Use  the  multicaulis,  Brusa,  and  Alpine  \ 
raised  them  from  the  slip  ;  have  paid  no  par- 
ticular attention  to  them  otherwise  than  hoe- 
ing. Winterkills  the  tops  of  the  multicau- 
lis, but  they  sprout  from  the  roots  readily  in 
the  spring. 

Feed  on  bundles  and  cut  the  branches,  it 
being  much  more  expeditious  than  plucking 
the  leaves,  and  seems  to  be  more  in  accord- 
ance with  the  nature  of  the  worms,  as  they 
invariably  (when  healthy)  after  eating,  crawl 
to  the  stock  of  the  branch  to  rest.  Prefer 
early  feeding,  for  a  number  of  reasons  :  1st. 
It  is  natural  for  the  worms  to  hatch  in  June. 
2d.  The  weather  and  temperature  in  general 
is  fine,  and  more  conducive  to  the  health  of 
the  worm.  3d.  The  second  crop  of  leaves 
(which  generally  constitute  the  chief  part  of 
the  fodder  for  the  last  feeding)  have  not 
those  good  qualities  requisite  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  worm  that  are  possessed  by  the 
first  growth  of  leaves.  The  cause  of  bad 
success  in  feeding,  which  has  come  under 
my  observation  among  my  acquaintances,  is 
simply  this.  It  being  associated  with  every 
thing  else  on  farms,  the  attention  which  the 
business  demands  is  grossly  neglected ; 
therefore  the  results  (like  every  thing  else  in 
the  agricultural  way,  which  has  not  its  due 
share  of  care)  are  unfavorable.  And,  in  my 
opinion,  the  business  —  that  is,  the  growing 
part,  will  never  arrive  to  a  state  of  perfection, 
or  yield  the  grower  a  handsome  equivalent, 
until  he  gives  his  whole  attention  in  the 
growing  season. 

W.  J.  CANTELO.  Weehmckcn  Hill,  Hobokcn 
P.  0.,  JV.  J. — Dear  sir,  the  following  is  a 
brief  account  of  my  process  of  raising  silk- 
worms. I  had,  this  year,  from  5  to  6 ounces 
of  eggs.  1  divided  them  in  three  parts;  the 
1st  commenced  hatching  the  7th  June  ;  the 
2d  on  the  13th:  the  3d  on  the  20th.  We 
fed  them  on  the  multicaulis  of  my  own  rais- 
ing for  nearly  three  weeks,  when,  as  my  own 
trees  were  planted  this  spring,  and  not  wish- 
ing to  injure  their  growth,  I  had  recourse  to 
trees  in  the  neighborhood,  the  leaves  of 
which  were  very  poor,  the  soil  being  not 
good,  and  not  suitably  cultivated.  I  found 
that,  at  the  second  moulting,  the  third  hatch 
were  as  far  advanced  as  the  second,  and  they 
wound  at  the  same  time  ;  which  1  attribute 


LETTERS. 


41 


to  the  last  hatch  having  had  a  steady  heat 
from  the  time  of  their  leaving  the  shell, 
whereas  the  second  lot  had  several  very 
cold  days.  An  able  writer  on  the  subject 
has  remarked,  and  my  own  experience  con- 
firms it,  that,  if  exposed  to  a  high  degree  of 
heat  during  the  first  stages,  they  receive  an 
impetus  that  continues  during  their  brief  ex- 
istence. The  last  of  the  worms  wound  the 
first  week  in  August.  We  were  disappoint- 
ed in  a  part  of  the  leaves  we  had  engaged, 
and  were  again  obliged  to  change  their  food; 
the  only  leaves  we  could  procure  at  the  time 
were  grown  on  the  edge  of  a  marsh,  and 
very  much  in  the  shade,  and  were,  in  conse- 
quence, poor  and  watery,  and  all  the  worms 
that  were  near  winding,  which  is  their  most 
critical  age,  were  immediately  affected  by 
them  with  a  disease  resembling  cftolera  mor- 
bus,  and  almost  all  died  ;  a  few,  that  were 
probably  the  strongest,  recovered,  by  being 
fed  with  leaves  well  dried  in  the  sun  ;  they 
formed  cocoons,  but  they  were  very  indiffer- 
ent. I  estimate  my  loss  at  30,000.  I  men- 
tion this  circumstance  as  a  caution  to  persons 
feeding,  not  to  change  a  strong  leaf  for  a 
softer  or  more  watery  one,  after  the  last 
moulting.  Notwithstanding  the  disadvan- 
tages I  labored  under,  I  obtained  from  the  5 
ounces  of  eggs  45  bushels  of  cocoons  in  the 
gross.  We  have  tried  the  various  methods 
of  stifling  the  chrysalis :  carbonic  acid  gas, 
camphor,  steaming,  and  baking,  but  find 
nothing  equal  to  destroying  them  by  the  heat 
of  the  sun.  During  the  feeding,  the  ther- 
mometer fell  once  to  64,  and  one  day  rose  to 
100,  but  it  ranged  from  76  to  86.  Our  feed- 
ing frames  were  lath  hurdles,  4  feet  by  9,  in 
tiers  of  5,  one  above  another,  pulling  out  on 
either  side,  like  drawers,  into  a  three  feet 
alley-way. 

For  the  winding  I  tried  the  branches  of 
various  trees  and  shrubs,  both  with  and  with- 
out leaves ;  those  without  leaves  were  de- 
cidedly preferable,  but  each  had  its  disad- 
vantage. From  close  observation  of  the 
worm  in  its  choice  of  a  place  to  wind,  the 
idea  of  the  rack  exhibited  at  the  fair  struck 
me  as  being  suitable,  and,  on  trying  it,  I 
found  it  to  equal  my  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions. *  *  *  It  may  be  seen  that  1  do 
not  recommend  these  racks  from  interested 
motives,  as  the  model  has  been  sent  to  the 
Institute  for  the  benefit  of  the  silk-growing 
community  ;  I  should  merely  wish  the  privi- 
lege of  naming  them  Cantdo's  Winding  Rack. 
The  silk  exhibited  is  part  of  this  year's  crop, 
and  is  reeled  by  my  daughters  on  what  is 
called  the  Piedmont  reel,  with  some  improve- 
ments. Relative  to  the  cost  of  raising,  my 
expenses  this  year  were, 

For  9000  Ibs.  of  leaves,  $30  00 

Expense  of  picking,  at  31  cts.  )      9S  ,«, 
per  100  Ibs., 


$58  I2h 

1  cannot  state  the  expense  of  attendance 
for  feeding,  as  the  worms  were  attended  by 
my  three  daughters  during  the  feeding,  wind- 
ing, and  gathering,  with  the  addition  of  an 
extra  person  after  the  last  moulting.  Know- 
4* 


mg  the  number  of  persons  required  to  attend 
five  ounces,  any  person  can  easily  estimate 
what  that  part  of  the  expense  would  be. 

I  have  every  confidence  in  silk  business. 
Under  that  impression  I  have  this  year 
planted  20,000  trees,  built  a  cocoonery  200 
by  25,  two  stories  high,  well  ventilated  by 
doors  and  windows. 

JOHN  BARRETT,  Ashby,  Mass.  —  As  to  the 
questions,  I  can  answer  but  a  few,  because  I 
have  kept  no  statistics  that  are  now  at  hand. 

(1.)  Have  fed  worms,  more  or  less,  eight 
or  ten  years.  The  general  result  has  been 
satisfactory,  though  in  some  of  the  cold 
seasons  did  not  do  so  well. 

(2.)  I  use  an  unfinished  room  in  my 
house,  which  is  finished  outside,  tempera- 
ture regulated  some  seasons  by  a  stove,  and 
others  by  the  winds  and  the  sun,  but  al- 
ways, when  I  have  used  artificial  heat,  have 
succeeded  the  best. 

(4.)  The  name  of  the  variety  that  1  have 
I  do  not  know ;  it  is  a  large  kind  of  worm. 
—  have  had  others,  but  prefer  this  to  any  I 
have  seen. 

(5.)  My  trees  are  chiefly  Cantons,  and  a  few^ 
common  whites.  I  find  the  better  they  are 
cultivated,  the  better  for  the  grower,  the  bet- 
ter  for  the  picker,  for  the  feeder,  and  the  worm. 

(6.)  I  prefer  early  feeding. 

We  have  manufactured  all  the  silk  we 
have  raised,  into  sewings.  My  wife  and  a 
little  girl  of  fourteen  have  done  the  work 
principally  —  I  turn  in  a  helping  hand  when- 
ever I  can.  The  amount  of  proceeds  va- 
ries from  $  20  to  $  100  in  a  season,  just  as 
I  am  able  to  give  my  attention  to  it  —  have 
from  6  to  8000  trees,  arid  mean  to  enlarge 
my  plantation. 

I  see  nothing  to  prevent  this  branch  of 
business  becoming  equal  to  any  other  in  this 
country,  if  it  is  properly  managed. 

JOHN  MAXAM,  Colerain^  Mass.  —  We  have 
fed  all  our  mulberry-leaves  to  worms  this 
season,  with  good  success.  The  silk-worm's 
cradle  of  Mr.  Gill  is  worthy  of  notice.  A 
few  days  prior  to  receiving  your  favor,  de- 
scribing the  cradle,  for  the  want  of  room  I 
had  suspended  a  rack,  made  by  framing  nar- 
row strips  of  boards  together,  ten  by  three 
feet,  by  cords,  which  I  could  let  down,  and 
feed,  then  raise  and  pass  under.  I  attached 
a  thin  board  to  the  under  side ;  fed  with 
brush.  When  a  sufficient  quantity  had  been 
laid  on  to  prevent  the  worms  from  falling 
through,  took  off  the  board,  taking  care  not 
to  swing  the  rack  more  than  we  could  help. 
But  upon  receiving  a  description  of  Gill's 
patent,  I  let  down  the  rack,  and  set  it  in 
motion.  It  swings  nice,  to  the  amusement 
of  my  neighbors,  and  the  great  comfort  and 
loy  of  the  little  beings  on  the  brush.  I  am 
satisfied  the  cradle  will  do  well,  yet  doubt 
the  propriety  of  feeding  in  tents.  My  worms 
do  not  eat  well  in  wet,  cold,  and  long  storms 
—  do  the  best  in  dry,  warm  weather,  with 
pure  air.  In  damp,  foggy  weather,  I  use 
the  stove,  by  which  means  the  worms  will 


LETTERS. 


cat  double  the  amount  of  leaves.  Worms 
want  a  warm,  dry,  pure  air  —  still,  tent  feed- 
ing remains  to  be  tested  in  this  climate. 

1  have  fed  worms  five  seasons  —  use  .the 
multicaulis  —  have  one  third  of  an  acre,  now 
three  years  old  —  head  them  down  in  the 
spring  —  trees  not  injured  by  standing  out 
winters  —  have  never  failed  essentially  in 
any  part  of  the  business,  but  have  yet  much 
to  learn. 

H.  A.  YOUNG,  Silk-dyer,  Detroit,  Michigan. 
*~  I  forward  you  the  little  knowledge  I  have 
respecting  silk-raising  in  this  State.  I  tried 
the  experiment  three  years  ago;  fed  the 
worms  with  the  white  mulberry,  and  met 
my  expectations.  There  are  some  ten  or 
twelve  families  of  my  acquaintance  who 
have  this  season  raised  several  bushels  co- 
coons from  the  multicaulis,  and  other  va- 
rieties, —  and  from  what  I  can  learn,  it  would 
become  a  source  of  wealth,  if  extensively 
engaged  in ;  and,  to  secure  this,  all  that  is 
wanted  is  a  convenient  market.  There  are 
three  silk-weavers  in  this  vicinity  —  they  do 
nothing  at  it,  for  want  of  encouragement. 
I  have  seen  a  sample  of  this  season's  reeled 
silk  —  one  of  the  above-mentioned  weavers 
pronounced  it  a  first-rate  article  —  many  fail 
in  cleaning  silk.  All  agree  that  it  is  stout, 
but  deficient  in  lustre.  Here  lies  the  mys- 
tery. Most  people  clean  the  silk  with  soft 
Boap  —  destroying  the  native  gloss,  in  free- 
ing it  of  its  gum,  owing  to  the  vegetable 
alkali  the  soap  contains,  the  silk  being  ani- 
mal substance ;  it  will  completely  dissolve 
wool,  if  applied  strong  enough,  forming  a 
soap  of  itself.  Many  dyers  use  nothing  but 
the  best  of  white  soap  ;  being  made  from 
mineral  alkali,  soda  acts  gently  on  animal 
substances;  nor  does  it  give  that  yellow 
tinge  the  vegetable  alkali  produces.  It  is 
even  necessary  to  bleach  silk  for  certain 
shades,  to  give  them  a  clear  bloom.  About 
25  Ibs.  good  white  soap,  dissolved  in  suffi- 
cient clean  soft  water,  for  100  Ibs.  silk  ;  put 
the  silk  loosely  in  their  bags;  boil,  gently, 
say  2£  hours  —  cool  and  wash  well,  in  a  run- 
ning stream  —  beat  occasionally,  to  free  it 
from  all  impurity.  This  I  know  by  practice. 

REV.  E.  J.  BOARDMAN,  Randolph  Centre, 
Vt.  —  I  am  the  only  one  that  has  done  any 
thing  of  consequence,  in  silk,  this  side  of 
Woodstock,  that  I  know  of.  I  bought  4500 
trees  two  years  ago,  and  put  them  on  about 
a  quarter  of  an  acre.  I  commenced  feeding 
about  45,000  worms ;  a  part  were  unhealthy, 
a  part  hatched  late,  and  a  frost  cut  off  my 
leaves,  so  that  I  had  but  four  bushels  of 
cocoons.  They  were  kept  in  two  rooms  in 
the  second  story  of  my  house,  which  were 
not  very  well  ventilated,  and  the  windows 
down  at  night. 

This  year  I  procured  eggs  of  Mr.  Dexter, 
of  Chtremont,  N.  H.,  and  fed  about  the 
same  number.  I  had  3  or  4000  eggs  — 
white  mammoth,  and  a  few  sulphur  —  of 
my  own,  both  of  which  kinds  were  very 
healthy,  and  wound  well,  and  four  other 


kinds  of  Mr.  Dexter— about  6  or  8000  of 
the  Rougwicrmer  ;  15,000  of  the  Nankin  pea- 
nuts ;  3000  of  the  two*crop,  making  white 
cocoons,  and  in  color  like  the  sulphur ;  and 
10  or  12,000  of  what  Mr.  Dexter  called  the 
four  weeks'  sulphur,  but  which  were  in  real- 
ity the  seven  or  eight  weeks'  sulphur. 

It  took  about  200,  upon  an  average,  of  the 
Rougwiermer  cocoons  to  make  a  pound ; 
450  of  the  two-crop,  white  mammoth,  and 
sulphur;  and  pea-nuts  300.  I  had  feed 
enough  for  my  worms  both  seasons,  from  my 
4500  trees,  (multicaulis  only.)  I  cut  them 
off  at  the  top  of  the  ground  last  year,  and 
sold  the  cuttings,  and  covered  a  part  with 
the  furrow,  and  a  part  were  not  covered,, 
and  they  generally  lived ;  though  those  not 
covered,  the  best.  I  have  between  eight 
and  nine  bushels  of  cocoons.  [The  trees,  in 
the  above,  altogether  too  thick.  They  must 
have  sun  and  air.  I.  R.  li.J 

CHARLES  G.  CONKLEY,  Martinsburg,  Lew- 
is Co.,  JV.  Y.  —  In  1842,  I  hatched,  about 
the  middle  of  June,  100  eggs  of  the  sulphur 
variety.  They  grew  well,  were  healthy, 
and  wound  up,  in  about  five  weeks,  96  per- 
fect cocoons,  —  fed  on  the  white  and  multi- 
caulis. After  the  third  moulting,  cleaned 
every  alternate  day.  About  the  1st  of  July  I 
hatched,  as  nearly  as  I  could  estimate,  1000 
sulphur.  They  grew  well  until  about  the 
third  moulting,  when  my  feed  came  short, 
and  from  that  time  they  did  poorly. 

About  the  20th  of  June,  1843,  I  com- 
menced with  120  of  the  drab  pea-nut,  fed 
mostly  on  multicaulis  —  gave  plenty  of  fresh 
air,  cleaned  them  after  the  third  moulting 
every  other  day.  They  wound  112  perfect 
cocoons,  six  imperfect,  though  not  bad,  and 
two  died  after  going  up.  When  these  were 
about  two  weeks  old,  I  hatched  about  2000 
sulphur  —  they  did  well  up  to  the  third 
moulting,  when  I  neglected  them,  and  they 
became  diseased,  and  began  to  die.  I  im- 
mediately cleaned  them  off,  and  sprinkled 
some  new-slacked  lime  upon  them,  which 
almost  entirely  stopped  the  disease.  I  con- 
tinued that  treatment  until  they  wound  up. 
They  made  about  700  first-rate  cocoons,  and 
about  100  poor  ones.  I  hatched  about  800 
or  1000  of  the  sulphur,  at  the  same  time  I 
hatched  the  first,  and  gave  them  the  same 
treatment,  and  they  wound  750  perfect  co- 
coons. 

And  now,  from  my  two  years'  experience, 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  three 
things  are  indispensably  necessary  for  the 
successful  culture  of  silk.  First,  plenty  of 
feed  —  it  matters  not  so  much  what  kind, 
whether  white  or  niullicaulis.  Second,  plen- 
ty of  fresh  air  :  and  last,  though  not  least, 
cleanliness  and  plenty  of  room,  especially 
nft.cr  the  third  moulting.  And  with  these, 
there  is  no  more  difficulty  in  raising  silk, 
than  there  is  in  raising  sheep  or  pigs. 

HENRY  CHAPIN,  Canandaigua,  JV.  Y.  — 
I  have  fed,  the  last  season,  a  small  lot  of 
worms,  for  experiment,  upon  multicaulis; 


LETTERS. 


nnd  they  did  very  well  j  and  all  of  them,  or 
nearly  all,  wound  up.  I  began  this  season, 
and  kept  the  eggs  buck  in  an  ice-house  until 
the  20th  July.  I  then  commenced  with  five 
ounces  eggs,  and  they  all  hatched,  and  passed 
all  their  moultings  well,  and  I  did  not  lose 
any  until  after  the  fourth  moulting.  About 
the  1st  September  a  few  of  them  began  to 
spin.  They  all  appeared  healthy,  but  we 
had  at  this  time  three  very  cold  nights  and 
frost,  and  a  cold  storm,  which  lasted  about  a 
week,  and  the  final  result  was,  that  I  lost  the 
most  of  them. 

I  have  about  two  acres  of  multicaulis,  and 
this  is  the  second  year's  growth.  I  fed  the 
worms  in  a  covered  building,  but  open  at 
the  sides,  so  that  it  was  well  ventilated.  I 
shall  try  it  again  next  season,  but  shall  begin 
earlier,  say  about  the  10th  of  June.  1  think 
probably  my  misfortune  in  this  experiment 
arose  from  late  feeding.  I  am  inexperienced 
in  the  business  —  never  saw  a  silk-worm,  or 
saw  any  fed,  until  I  fed  them  myself.  I 
should  be  glad  to  get  the  Report  of  the  Con- 
vention. 

DR.  M.  W.  PHILLIPS,  Log-Hall,  Ed- 
wards's  Depot,  Miss. — I  have  planted  the 
multicaulis,  and  fed  a  few  silk-worms  for 
two  years.  This  tree  grows  very  finely, 
frequently  to  the  height  of  12  to  18  feet 
from  the  bud,  and  to  a  size  of  near  3  inches 
in  diameter ;  quality  of  land,  and  care  of 
cultivation  making,  of  course,  vast  differ- 
ence. The  tender  ends  of  the  twigs,  from  a 
few  inches  to  a  foot  or  so,  become  killed  some 
seasons,  as  it  often  happens  that  a  killing 
frost  falls  when  the  leaves  are  tender  and  the 
twigs  in  full  growth.  Last  year  we  had 
worms  in  the  gable  of  our  house,  the  room 
not  plastered,  with  three  windows  of  twelve 
lights  each,  10  by  12  glass,  and  one  door,  fre- 
quently all  of  them  open  ;  we  were  careful 
to  feed  on  dry  leaves,  sprinkling  air-slacked 
lime  over  them,  and  not  cleaning  the  hurdles 
but  a  few  times.  We  lost  very  few  by  disease, 
the  ant  proving  our  only  enemy.  This  sea- 
son we  fed  enough  to  make  about  one  bushel 
of  cocoons,  and  did  not  lose  in  all  probability 
100  worms,  the  most  of  which  were  mashed, 
or,  dropping  on  the  floor,  were  destroyed  by 
the  ant. 

We  fed  this  season  in  a  plastered  room, 
three  large  windows  of  18  lights  each,  and 
two  doors,  all  of  wljich  were  generally  open 
from  eight  to  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.  We  were 
induced  to  make  a  fire  in  the  room  about 
daylight  for  a  few  mornings,  the  season  being 
colder  than  I  ever  before  saw  in  the  South, 
though  a  native.  I  fed  partly  on  multicaulis 
and  partly  on  the  red  (wild)  mulberry.  I 
have  three  neighbors  that  have  fed  more 
than  we  have.  They  feed  on  shelves,  sus- 
pended from  top  of  the  house,  in,  general- 
ly, a  shed,  weather-boarded  with  split  white- 
oak  clapboards,  —  no  sash,  no  fire.  One  of 
them  fed  in  an  open  log-house  this  year, 
with  not  even  a  door-shutter,  or  the  cracks 
of  the  house  stopped.  This  lady,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Wells,  wife  of  Mr.  Wm.  M.  Wells, 


sent  to  our  fair  a  specimen  of  her  silk,  and 
a  purse  knit  of  it,  on  both  of  which  she  took 
a  premium.  She  has  been  making  silk  three 
years ;  uses  the  common  reel  and  the  common 
spinning-wheel,  and  deserves  great  credit 
for  her  zeal,  industry,  and  public  spirit. 

None  of  the  experiments  1  know  of  in  this 
region,  but  have  been  very  successful ;  and, 
except  my  own,  I  do  not  think  a  thermome- 
ter would  vary  one  degree  from  the  shelf 
where  the  worms  were,  and  out  of  doors, 
except  the  blowing  of  wind  would  cause  a 
slight  variation.  1  have  visited  these  fixtures 
each  year,  and  know  what  I  say.  The  loss 
is  so  trivial  that  neither  could  say  if  there 
were  any. 

This  season  I  fed  worms  with  leaves  well 
wetted  with  dew,  so  much  so,  that  shaking 
them  on  the  floor  would  pretty  well  sprinkle 
it,  which  we  generally  did.  Heretofore,  we 
gathered  dry  leaves  in  time,  or  even  wiped 
them  dry,  but  it  was  so  tedious  we  resolved 
merely  to  shake  the  water  off,  and  our  worms 
grew  apparently  more  rapid  than  ever  they 
had  before.  As  a  fact  to  prove  this,  they 
began  to  wind  the  25th  or  2(5th  day.  They 
were  never  fed  after  9  o'clock  nor  before  6 
to  7,  generally  five  or  six  times  a  day.  We 
had  made  up  our  mind,  that  much  of  this 
feeding  with  cut  leaves,  all  day  and  all  night, 
cleaning  hurdles,  drv  leaves,  no  moisture, 
&c.  &c.,  was  too  much  trouble,  and  unne- 
cessary, and  we  tried  the  plan.  We  would 
not  hesitate  to  feed  in  the  open  air,  if  it  were 
not  for  birds,  poultry,  ants,  and  our  heavy 
rains. 

The  great  difficulty  in  all  matters  of  im- 
provement in  the  South  is,  "  it  is  too  small  a 
business,"  too  much  trouble,  or  too  long  to 
get  the  return.  There  are  but  few  in  this 
country  who  look  upon  the  silk  business  as 
any  business  at  all ;  but  few  who  would  have 
any  thing  to  do  with  it,  and  those  are,  to 
their  praise  be  it  said,  entirely  ladies.  My 
own  opinion  is,  that  it  is,  to  us  of  the  South, 
the  greatest  business  that  has  ever  presented 
itself.  An  old  negro  competent  to  feed 
young  children  or  chickens,  with  the  aid  of 
a  few  small  chaps,  from  four  to  eight  years 
of  age,  can  make  as  much  as  grown  hands 
can  in  the  field,  and  this  without  any  ex- 
pense of  gin-house  or  machinery.  J  could, 
without  any  building,  open  a  cocoonery  six- 
ty-two feet  long,  and  some  twenty  feet  above 
the  earth  —  the  gable  of  my  gin- house.  The 
hurdles,  &c.,  could  be  packed  out  of  the 
way  in  summer  time.  [Gill's  tent  and  cradle 
better.  I.  R.  B.] 

It  seems  to  me  to  be  a  business  peculiarly 
appropriate  for  the  South.  We  can  com- 
mence feeding  the  20th  of  April,  (this  year 
16th,  last  year  24th.) 

D.  A.  SABIN,  Wallingford,  Rutland  Co., 
Vt.  —  I  am  but  little  acquainted  with  raising 
or  manufacturing  silk,  having  but  just  com- 
menced in  the  business,  and  that  on  a  small 
scale  as  yet ;  and  my  object  in  this  commu- 
nication is  to  obtain  information,  not  that  I 
think  of  giving  it. 


LETTERS. 


I  now  have  about  three  acres  of  trees, 
about  half  of  which  are  the  white,  or  Italian, 
the  others  the  alpine,  one  acre  of  which  are 
set  in  hedge  form,  the  other  for  standard 
trees,  from  which  1  have  fed  worms  the 
present  season  that  have  procured  me  80 
pounds  cocoons,  from  which  1  have  reeled 
6  pounds  raw  silk,  and  have  saved  about  1 
pound  eggs,  mostly  of  the  pea-nut.  The 
worms  were  fed  in  an  open  building,  so  much 
open  that  the  wind  would  frequently  blow 
the  leaves  from  the  shelves,  where  the  worms 
were  feeding,  but  still  I  do  not  think  1  lost 
one  in  a  hundred  of  what  moulted  the  first 
time.  There  was  no  disease  among  them. 

The  leaves  to  feed  them  were  all  picked  by 
two  children,  one  eleven  and  the  other  twelve 
years  of  age,  during  the  last  stage  before 
winding.  I  think  the  bounty  paid  by  our 
State  well  pays  all  expenses,  with  those  who 
manage  it  right.  But  here  is  the  fact.  I 
am  fully  persuaded  (at  least,  so  long  as  this 
bounty  is  continued)  that  five  acres  of  trees, 
of  the  age  of  mine,  (four  years  from  the  seed,) 
will  produce  more  net  profit  than  can  be  now 
realized  from  200  sheep,  or  from  a  dairy 
of  20  cows;  and  1  trust  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  the  raising  of  silk  in  the  United 
States  will  be  considered  as  profitable  a  busi- 
ness as  that  of  raising  wool.  1  am  of  opinion 
that  all  that  is  required  to  insure  a  good  crop 
of  worms  is  to  give  them  feed  enough,  and 
barely  protect  them  from  the  sun  and  rain. 

P.  S.  I  could  have  fed  twice  the  number 
of  worms  from  my  trees  if  I  could  have  got 
the  eggs  1  wanted —  the  pea-nuts. 

REV.  S.  S.  ARNOLD,  Westminster,  Vt.— 
My  silk  business  this  year  is  hardly  worth 
naming.  The  man  who  carried  on  my  place, 
put  out  his  eggs  rather  late.  The  first  lot 
did  tolerably  well,  but  from  some  cause  he 
did  not  put  out  more  than  half,  or  one  third, 
enough.  The  next  lot  were  not  healthy,  so 
that  we  had  only  4£  pounds  of  reeled  silk. 
We  fed  in  the  same  building  as  last  year. 
Close  building,  but  well  ventilated.  Fed  on 
multicaulis,  chiefly  —  last  part  of  the  time 
with  hardier  kinds,  especially  the  first  crop. 
It  appears  to  me,  we  should  have  had  three 
times  as  much  silk  if  the  eggs  had  all  been 
put  out  together  at  first.  Mr.  Clark,  of 
this  town,  had  good  success  the  first  crop, 
and  poor  the  second.  Mr.  Adams,  of  Wai- 
pole,  N.  H.,  had  one  small  crop  only,  but 
very  healthy  and  good.  I  have  lately  seen 
Mr.  Gleason,  of  Newport,  N.  H.  He  is  on 
the  place  formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Messenger. 
Mr.  Gleason  tells  me  that  he  has  had  very 
good  success  this  year.  He  has  fed  none 
but  the  four- weeks  sulphur  —  considers  them 
altogether  the  most  healthy  and  profitable. 
He  has  fed  almost  wholly  on  multicaulis, 
and  prefers  this  to  other  kinds  of  trees.  His 
worms  were  from  eggs  of  his  own  keeping. 
As  1  understood,  he  has  not  over  four  acres 
of  trees,  and  those  not  large  ;  and  he  thought 
he  should  make  sewing-silk,  from  his  own 
cocoons,  enough  to  realize  two  hundred 
dollars. 


WM.  C.  FREEMAN,  Wyoming,  Wyoming 
Co.,  JV.  Y.  —  1st.  I  have  fed  worms  four 
years  :  the  first  year,  1840,  fed  but  few  — 
good  success.  2d  year,  fed  early,  worms 
wound  first  of  July,  cocoons  good,  15  bushels. 
3d  year,  fed  but  few  early  for  want  of  eggs 

—  good  success  —  late  crop  poor,  cold   and 
rainy.      4th  year,    1843,  eggs  hatched   too 
early,  bad  success ;  2d  crop,  worms  healthy 

—  cocoons  light  —  cannot  account  for  it. 

2d.  I  feed  in  a  frame  building,  merely  en- 
closed, made  for  that  use.  The  temperature 
I  regulate,  keeping  the  room  warm  enough 
for  the  worms  to  work. 

3d.  I  have  never  fed  in  an  open  shed,  but 
I  have  seen  others  do  it  with  good  success. 

4th.  I  prefer  the  Nankin  pea-nut,  or  mam- 
moth sulphur. 

5th.  I  use  the  multicaulis,  principally  ; 
Broosa  and  common  white  are  very. good, 
but  the  facility  with  which  the  leaves  are 
gathered,  together  with  the  greater  amount 
of  foliage,  renders  the  multicaulis  far  prefer- 
able to  any  other  tree,  in  rny  estimation.  I 
have  managed  many  different  ways.  The 
best  with  me  is  to  let  the  trees  stand,  —  cut 
the  tops  close  in  the  spring,  mellow  the  ground 
with  a  corn  drag  or  cultivator,  not  destroying 
the  roots.  In  this  way  you  will  get  a  num- 
ber of  shoots,  and  more  than  twice  Sie  amount 
of  leaves,  than  to  let  the  tops  remain  on. 

6th.  From  my  experience,  and  that  of  my 
acquaintance  in  the  silk  business,  I  should 
decide  in  favor  of  early  feeding,  if  not  too 
early. 

7th.  In  some  cases  of  bad  success  in  the 
business,  there  has  been  too  much  experiment 
in  feeding. 

8th  and  9th.   Not  able  to  answer. 

10th.  The  greatest  trouble  with  us  is  in 
keeping  eggs  ;  they  either  hatch  too  early,  or, 
if  kept  back  by  being  put  into  an  ice-house, 
they  are  most  always  lost,  or,  what  is  worse, 
hatch  only  to  be  sickly  and  amount  to  noth- 
ing. If  we  could  keep  our  eggs  good,  we 
could  do  the  fair  thing  in  western  New  York. 
The  silk  business  is  a  good  business,  rightly 
conducted. 

P.  S.  As  this  is  the  first  time  that  I  ever 
attempted  to  write  upon  this  subject,  you 
must  take  the  facts,  and  fill  out  as  you  shall 
judge  best.  [No  need  of  that,  friend  Free- 
man ;  all  right  as  it  is.  I.  R.  B.] 

OLIVER  MITCHELL,  gouth  Britain,  Ct. — 
I  have  been  doing  a  little  at  silk  for  four 
years.  Have  raised  four  or  five  bushels  per 
year  of  cocoons,  and  sold  them.  I  have  been 
increasing  my  trees,  intending  to  make  it  a 
business,  but  my  worms  have  often  died. 
My  building  is  not  sufficiently  ventilated.  I 
am  desirous  next  season  of  trying  the  plan  of 
open  shed  feeding.  What  constitutes  an 
open  shed  ?  Is  simply  a  roof  over  the  worms, 
all  that  is  wanted  ? 

[We  refer  Mr.  M.  to  Mr.  Gill's  description. 
I.  R.  B.j  

ABIAL  S.  SMART,  Springfield,  Vermont.  — 
I  will  inform  you  as  near  as  I  can  the  situa- 


LETTERS. 


45 


tion  of  our  silk  business  in  this  place.  There 
are  quite  a  number  in  this  place  that  are  try- 
ing to  do  something,  but  not  all  with  very 
good  success.  I  think  that  we  have  not  got 
upon  the  right  way  of  feeding,  i  have  seen 
some  notice  of  Mr.  Gill's  method  of  feeding. 
I  should  like  to  get  a  plan  of  it,  or  some  in- 
formation on  this  subject.  We  want  a  mar- 
ket for  cocoons  —  have  somewhere  from  fifty 
to  seventy-five  bushels  in  this  vicinity,  in  a 
number  of  hands.  There  are  more  within 
five  or  six  miles  of  this  place,  but  I  cannot 
say  whether  they  will  sell  them  or  reel  them. 
There  is  one  man  that  has  raised  five  hun- 
dred pounds. 

JOHN  MARSH,  Southbridge,  Mass.  —  In  the 
spring  of  1840,  I  planted  about  one  quarter 
of  an  acre  of  mulberry-trees,  principally  mul- 
ticaulis,  and  have  averaged  from  them  about 
three  pounds  of  reeled  silk  each  year  since  ; 
although  they  have  winter-killed  badly  two 
winters.  I  have  raised  this  year  enough  for 
four  pounds  of  reeled  silk,  and  could  have 
raised  as  much  more  if  I  had  had  good  eggs. 
I  have  used  many  kinds  of  worms,  but  can- 
not determine  which  is  the  best.  I  have  al- 
ways fed  in  a  tight  room,  have  not  had  any 
good  conveniences,  and  have  been  somewhat 
troubled,  in  the  last  stages  of  feeding,  by  their 
turning  yellow  and  dying.  I  have  come  to 
the  conclusion,  that  this  is  attributable  to 
keeping  them  too  thick  and  not  giving  them 
sufficient  air.  I  have  not  kept  any  account 
of  expenses,  but  am  inclined  to  believe,  if  we 
could  have  encouragement  by  a  bounty  from 
the  State,  until  we  could  have  time  for  ex- 
perience and  improvements,  the  business  of 
raising  silk  would  become  both  profitable 
and  useful.  I  shall,  therefore,  multiply  my 
trees. 

JOHN  D.  Dix,  Ithaca,  JV.  F.  —  I  received 
your  Silk  Circular  some  days  since,  and  take 
the  first  opportunity  upon  recovering  from  a 
severe  illness  to  answer,  briefly,  your  ques- 
tions, or  as  many  of  them  as  I  can  satisfacto- 
rily to  myself. 

To  Question  I,  I  answer,  I  have  fed  worms 
three  years,  and  the  general  results  have  been 
favorable.  The  second  year  better  than  the 
first,  and  this  year  better  than  both  together. 
I  )v:ive  raised  forty  bushels  this  year,  at  an 
expense  of  $70,  which  is  about  the  amount 
of  premium  1  have  di^iwn  from  the  State, 
leaving  me  the  amount  received  from  the 
sale  of  cocoons  as  so  much  made. 

Question  2.  The  first  year,  I  used  the  up- 
per rooms  of  my  house,  badly  ventilated,  and 
was  very  careful  to  shut  the  windows  nights, 
and  build  a  fire  cold  days  —  all  lorong.  Sec- 
ond year,  third  story  of  store,  long  room,  win- 
dows at  each  end — no  artificial  heat — win- 
dows closed  in  cool  weather.  Third  year,  an 
old  ropewalk  and  barn,  from  which  I  took 
off  boards  all  round,  and  let  the  air  circulate 
freely  night  and  day  in  all  kinds  of  weather 
—  very  few  diseased  worms.  Spun  in  thirty 
days,  and  made  the  best  cocoons  I  ever  saw. 
I  also  fed  the  leaves  as  they  came  from  the 


trees,  wet  or  dry ;  used  lime  freely,  and 
changed  the  litter  but  once  during  each  age. 

To  Question  3,  I  answer  no,  but  think  it 
would  do  well. 

Question  4.  The  Mirabel  Jaune  or  mam- 
moth Nankin  pea-nut. 

Question  5.  Multicaulis,  and  heretofore 
they  have  managed  themselves.  Hereafter 
I  intend  to  cut  them  down  close  to  the  ground 
in  November,  and  lay  down  the  tops  at  the 
same  time,  instead  of  waiting  till  spring. 

Question  6.  I  have  :  the  difference  is 
greatly  in  favor  of  early  feeding ;  for  in- 
stance, from  two  ounces  hatched  17th  June, 
I  obtained  135  pounds  of  the  very  best  co- 
coons I  ever  saw.  From  4£  ounces  hatched 
June  28,  I  obtained  213  pounds,  not  quite 
equal  to  the  first.  From  4  ounces  hatched 
July  10,  I  obtained  112  pounds,  decidedly  in- 
ferior to  the  first,  though  good. 

Question  7.  The  causes  of  bad  success  in 
feeding  that  have  come  under  my  observa- 
tion, are,  1st.  Want  of  the  pure  air  of  heaven. 
2d.  They  do  not  generally  have  sufficient 
room  on  the  shelves.  3d.  Their  food  is  kept 
too  long  in  cellars  or  some  other  vile  place, 
where  it  gets  wilted  or  dried  up.  Give  silk- 
worms plenty  of  food  fresh  from  the  trees, 
plenty  of  room  on  the  shelves,  and  plenty  of 
pure  air,  and  then  do  not  handle  them  too 
much,  and  there  is  no  difficulty  in  raising 
them  successfully. 

B.  B.  BARTON,  Gill,  Mass.  —  1  com- 
menced feeding  silk-worms  in  the  summer 
of  1840.  Have  continued  in  the  business 
ever  since. 

The  first  season  I  purchased  one  ounce  of 
eggs  of  the  large  pea-nut  variety,  which 
were  fed  upon  the  foliage  of  the  white  mul- 
berry in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  and 
produced  between  80  and  90  pounds  of  co- 
coons, and,  after  selecting  8  or  10  pounds  for 
eggs,  reeled  7<£  pounds  of  silk. 

The  second  season  I  hatched  two  and  a 
half  ounces  of  eggs,  which  produced  189 
pounds  of  cocoons.  These  were  fed  upon 
the  leaves  of  the  white  mulberry,  and  hatched 
about  the  middle  of  June.  1  also  fed  a  sec- 
cond  crop  with  the  leaves  of  the  white 
mulberry  and  multicaulis,  which  wound  60 
pounds  of  cocoons.  The  two  crops,  after 
selecting  one  bushel  for  seed,  reeled  21 
pounds  of  silk. 

The  third  season,  1  fed  about  as  many 
worms  as  the  second,  with  nearly  the  same 
success. 

My  success  the  present  season  has  been 
good,  though  taken  as  a  whole  not  quite  as 
favorable  as  heretofore.  My  first  crop  the 
early  part  of  the  season  were  healthy  and 
did  extremely  well,  producing  190  pounds 
of  good  cocoons.  I  did  not  succeed  as  well 

ith  the  second  crop,  of  about  30,000,  being 
busy  attending  the  first  crop,  that  were  wind- 
ing. They  were  neglected  and  fed  very  ir- 
regularly in  the  first  stages,  and  the  different 
days'  hatching  became  mixed,  which  caused 
them  to  be  uneven.  They  commenced  wind- 
ing the  21st  of  August.  The  weather  was 


46 


LETTERS. 


very  rainy  and  they  did  not  do  first-rate,  but 
wound  80  pounds  of  cocoons.  I  also  fed 
another  lot  of  about  the  same  number,  which 
did  extremely  well  until  they  commenced 
winding,  which  was  the  llth  of  September ; 
the  weather,  at  that  time,  had  become  quite 
cool,  witli  some  frost.  The  building  was 
closed,  and  by  means  of  artificial  heat  the 
temperature  kept  between  70  and  SO  degrees. 
Nearly  two  thirds  went  up  and  wound  good 
cocoons,  far  superior  to  those  of  the  second 
crop.  The  remainder  did  not  appear  to  be 
affected  with  any  sweeping  disease,  but  most 
of  them  turned  to  chrysalis,  without  forming 
any  cocoon.  This  crop  wound  only  fifty  Ibs. 
of  cocoons.  The  two  last  crops  were  fed  ex- 
clusively upon  the  mullicaulis.  From  the 
cocoons  raised  the  present  season,  1  have  se- 
lected two  bushels  for  eggs,  reeled  J7  pounds 
of  silk,  and  have  cocoons  enough  to  produce 
four  or  five  pounds  more. 

The  building  in  which  I  have  fed  is  about 
18  feet  in  length,  by  14  in  width,  and  7  feet 
between  the  posts.  There  are  four  windows, 
one  upon  each  side  of  the  building,  which 
enables  me  to  ventilate  it  freely.  Unless  the 
weather  is  cold,  I  allow  the  windows  and 
doors  to  remain  open  during  the  day,  and  some 
of  the  windows  during  the  night. 

1  have  not  paid  much  attention  to  regulat- 
ing the  temperature.  When  it  was  cool  and 
damp,  I  have  generally  used  artificial  heat. 

I  have  never  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent, 
but  have  no  doubt  but  the  plan  would  prove 
successful  in  the  early  part  of  the  season.  1 
should  have  tried  the  experiment  the  present 
season,  had  it  been  convenient. 

1  have  fed  two  kinds  of  worms,  the  large 
pea-nut  and  the  sulphur  variety  ;  though 
principally  of  the  pea-nut,  which  I  consider 
more  hardy,  and  less  liable  to  disease,  than 
the  sulphur  —  though  my  sulphur  worms 
have  generally  done  well. 

The  trees  used  are  the  white  mulberry  and 
multicaulis.  The  multicaulis  have  never 
winter-killed  to  any  extent,  and  I  usually 
let  them  remain,  during  the  winter,  as  they 
grew  during  the  summer. 

I  have  always  been  more  successful  with 
early  crops  of  worms  than  with  late.  My 
cocoons  made  by  early  crops  have  invariably 
yielded  more  silk  than  those  produced  by  late 
crops. 

From  my  own  experience,  I  am  con- 
vinced, that,  in  order  to  insure  good  success, 
the  cocoonery  should  be  well  ventilated,  the 
worms  obtained  from  a  healthy  stock,  and 
fed  as  much  as  they  will  eat. 

I  am  sanguine  in  the  belief,  that,  as  people 
become  experienced  in  the  rearing  of  silk- 
worms, it  will  be  a  profitable  branch  of 
business. 

JOSEPH  McHANNAN,  Macks  Hill  Cocoonery, 
near  Reading,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  —  In  an- 
swer to  the  inquiries  you  make  in  your  Silk 
Circular,  I  give  you  the  following : 

I  have  fed  worms  the  four  last  seasons,  on 
too  small  a  scale  to  learn  the  habits  of  the 
worm;  did  but  little  this  season  —  gathered 


somewhat  over  one  hundred  pounds  of  co- 
coons. 

My  building  is  a  frame,  boards  matched, 
floor  above  and  below  —  can  be  closed  per- 
fectly tight —  have  a  stove  in  the  building,  to 
regulate  the  temperature. 

1  have  not  fed  in  tents  or  open  buildings. 

The  orange  cocoons  are  the  easiest  to  reel, 
the  fibre  being  the  strongest.  The  pea-nut 
produces  the  most  silk  to  the  bushel,  but  it  ^ 
takes  more  worms  to  make  a  bushel.  The 
white  pea-nut,  4000  make  a  bushel,  weigh 
fourteen  pounds  when  first  gathered.  The 
Nankin  pea-nut,  3600  make  a  bushel,  weigh 
thirteen  pounds.  The  mammoth-sulphur, 
3000  make  a  bushel,  weigh  ten  pounds 
nine  ounces,  when  first  gathered.  1  preier 
the  pea-nut  for  my  own  reeling;  a  bushel 
makes  more  raw  silk  ;  but  the  mammoth- 
sulphur,  to  sell  by  the  bushel.  The  pea-nut 
has  nine  hundred  yards  of  fibre,  the  mam- 
moth-sulphur six  hundred  yards,  a  little 
coarser. 

I  use  the  multicaulis  ;  trees  that  are  de- 
signed for  planting,  take  up  in  the  fall,  lay 
them  in  layers,  cover  with  earth,  keep  them 
from  touching  much,  cover  the  heap  with 
boards  to  turn  the  water  off.  In  the  spring, 
cut  off  the  limbs  and  roots,  lay  them  in  fur- 
rows, cover  with  a  plough.  They  are  more 
sure  to  come,  than  if  they  stand  out  over 
the  winter.  If  any  miss  coming,  bend  down 
the  limbs  of  the  next  to  it,  cover  it  with 
earth,  and  it  will  take  root,  then  cut  it  off, 
and  it  is  a  tree.  Cultivate  them  the  same  as 
corn.  In  the  spring,  cut  all  the  dead  wood 
off.  Be  sure  to  cut  to  the  quick.  They  do 
better  to  do  it  after  the  buds  show  them- 
selves. I  have  cut  the  limbs  three  times 
from  a  part  of  my  trees  this  season.  They 
are  now  full  of  leaves  again.  The  more  they 
are  cut,  the  more  branches  will  shoot  out, 
and  produce  more  foliage,  if  the  land  is 
strong. 

I  have  found  no  difference  in  early  and 
late  feeding,  myself,  though  my  last  worms 
were  a  failure.  One  of  my  neighbors, 
Mr.  Rogers,  has  been  feeding  all  summer. 
His  last  worms  wound  up  September  20 ;  he 
says,  they  did  as  well  as  the  first.  They 
were  the  mammoth-sulphur,  fed  in  an  open 
barn,  on  board  shelves;  took  the  weather  as 
it  came  ;  were  healthy,  and  wound  up  well. 

I  believe  1  can  give  the  cause  of  the  loss 
of  my  last  worms.  My  first  two  crops  did 
well,  the  third  were  kept  in  a  close  room  till 
past  their  third  moulting;  many  had  died 
when  they  were  taken  to  the  cocoonery. 
My  fourth  crop  were  then  coming  on  in  the 
cocoonery ;  it  rained,  and  turned  cool.  The 
third  crop  would  not  wind,  but  wandered 
about.  I  darkened  the  room,  but  it  did  no 
good ;  I  built  a  fire  in  the  stove,  they  did 
better ;  but  the  building  had  to  be  closed  to 
warm  it.  My  young  worms  were  then 
twelve  days  old,  had  passed  their  third 
moulting.  I  never  saw  any  thing  to  equal 
them.  They  all  came  out  of  their  moulting 
within  three  hours  of  each  other,  each  time, 
on  the  fourth,  eighth,  and  twelfth  days ;  ou 


LETTERS. 


the  twelfth  day,  the  building  was  closed ;  on 
the  fifteenth,  they  commenced  dying  by 
thousands  ;  at  first,  I  could  not  account  for 
it,  but  soon  found  the  cause  was  the  want 
of  fresh  air;  threw  part  of  them  away; 
put  the  rest  out,  and  let  it  rain  on  them  two 
days  and  nights;  put  them  back,  let  them 
dry,  covered  them  with  lime,  and  they  com- 
menced eating  ;  a  part  wound  up.  The  dis- 
ease they  had  was  the  yellows.  The  worms 
they  came  from  had  no  yellows  among  them 
for  three  years  before.  4 

To  retard  the  eggs,  roll  the  papers  in 
cotton-batting,  place  it  in  a  tin  box,  not  air- 
tight, put  batting  around  it,  put  it  in  a 
wooden  box,  close  the  box,  put  it  in  an  ice- 
house, in  among  the  ice,  even  with  the  top 
of  the  box,  and  cover  it  eighteen  inches  with 
straw.  My  eggs,  kept  in  that  way,  came  out 
perfectly  dry,  and  did  not  hatch  for  twenty 
days,  the  best  sign  of  being  well  kept. 

I  think  the  post-office  department  might 
make  some  arrangement  to  carry  silk-worm 
eggs  at,  say  twenty-five  cents  per  ounce,  at 
most,  while  they  carry  mammoth  news- 
papers for  one  and  a  half  cents.  The  same 
weight  of  silk-worm  eggs,  would  cost  three 
or  four  dollars.  It  is  a  severe  drawback  on 
the  business,  and,  1  think,  it  might  be  rem- 
edied. 

1  have  not  known  an  instance  where 
worms  were  fed  in  any  quantity  in  a  close 
room,  that  they  did  well.  It  will  not  do  to 
feed  worms  with  tough,  yellow  leaves ;  it 
binds  them  up,  and,  instead  of  spinning,  they 
turn  to  giubs,  and  waste  their  silk.  Farmers, 
that  two  years  ago  laughed  at  the  silk- 
humbug,  as  they  called  it,  are  beginning  to 
make  some  inquiry  on  the  subject.  They 
are  getting  their  eyes  open.  We  have  no 
bounty  on  silk  in  this  State  now,  and  there 
is  no  way  to  come  at  the  amount  produced 
this  year;  but  it  must  be  large,  from  what  1 
can  learn  from  different  parts  of  Ohio. 

DR.  DANIEL  ST  EBB  INS,  Northampton,  Mas- 
sachusetts.—  I  give  the  following  answers 
to  your  several  questions  : 

I  have  fed  worms  for  seven  or  eight  years, 
with  the  sole  view  of  showing  that  it  could 
be  done.  This  year  made  twenty-five  to 
thirty  pounds  of  silk. 

This  season  I  erected  a  new  cocoonery, 
in  the  midst  of  a  mulberry  patch,  forty-two 
by  twenty  —  posts  eight  feet  out  of  ground,  i 
Roof  covered  with  boards  and  battened,  the 
sides  and  ends  covered  with  slats  three  inches 
wide,  and  half  an  inch  apart,  extending  from 
the  eaves  to  the  ground.  Floor  of  earth. 
[Not  air  enough.  I.  R.  B.] 

Adjoining  the  above  is  a  tent  iohojly 
covered  with  bass  matting ;  through  which 
the  rains  had  a  free  passage.  The  success 
of  the  tent  was  superior  even  to  the  co- 
coonery. 

Have  fed  for  several  years  in  an  open 
shed,  in  the  barn-yard,  but  nothing  to  ex- 
clude birds  and  fowls ;  in  other  respects,  the 
experiment  was  successful. 

For.  making  silk,  the  pea-nut  variety  has 


the  preference,  being  less  incumbered  with 
floss,  less  gum,  more  length,  lustre,  and 
strength  of  fibre,  than  other  varieties,  as 
testified  by  a  skilful  silk-dyer,  at  a  Court 
appointed  for  taking  depositions  to  be  used 
in  a  trial  pending  in  Nantucket,  Mass. 

Having  the  black,  white,  Canton,  Asiatic, 
Broosa,  multicaulis,  and  some  other  varieties, 
I  have  not  found  any  to  excel  the  Canton 
for  its  foliage,  and  the  Asiatic  for  its  abun- 
dant branches.  The  foliage  of  the  Canton 
continues  to  the  latest  season  in  greater  per- 
fection than  any  other. 

That  our  soil  and  climate  are  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  Canton  mul- 
berry', was  suggested  by  Dr.  Parker,  when 
recently  in  the  United  States,  on  being 
shown,  at  my  office,  the  foliage  from  my 
plantation,  the  stock  of  which  was  sent  me 
from  China,  as  the  very  best  used  in  China 
for  making  their  best  silk. 

The  tree  grows  more  rapidly  in  this  conti- 
nent than  in  China.  In  Jamaica,  where  it 
was  taken  by  Mr.  Whitmarsh,  it  attains  the 
height  of  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in  one  season, 
unless  headed  down  every  three  months,  as 
is  there  the  practice.  But  in  China  it  is 
represented  to  attain  only  about  four  feet  in 
the  season  ;  with  us,  some  have  grown  six 
to  eight  feet  in  a  season,  after  being  headed 
down  in  the  spring,  and  growing  in  dry  soil, 
enriched  by  the  decomposition  of  the  foliage 
on  its  surface.  I  do  not  know  of  any  com- 
post so  enriching,  as  the  foliage  of  the  mul- 
berry. 

An  early  crop  of  worms  is  preferable  to  a 
late  crop.  The  foliage  becomes  abundant 
the  latter  part  of  the  season,  but  is  very 
unfit  for  the  worms,  being  too  rancid  or  de- 
prived of  its  richness  by  drenching  or  long- 
continued  rains. 

It  was  my  expectation  and  intention,  to 
test  the  use  of  the  mulberry  foliage,  both  in 
its  green  and  dry  state,  for  making  paper; 
and  for  that  purpose  had  sent  a  quantity  to 
the  paper-mill,  but  cannot  have  the  experi- 
ment fully  tried  at  present. 

It  is  hoped  that  another  year  will  enable 
silk-growers  to  render  a  good  account  of 
mulberry  foliage  for  making  paper — and  of 
the  bark  of  the  young  branches  for  the  same 
purpose,  or  for  making  silk  fabrics. 

These  objects  being  accomplished,  togeth- 
er with  the  well-established  improvements 
for  feeding  worms,  and  the  multiplication 
of  the  silk-tree,  to  meet  the  present  destitu- 
tion of  the  country,  —  then  shall  we  be  pre- 
pared to  push  vigorously  for  the  mark  of 
$50,000,000  worth  of  silk  yearly  —  the  mark 
set  up  by  the  American  Institute. 

P.  S.  To  show  the  excellence  of  the  Can- 
ton mulberry,  I  subjoin  the  following  re- 
cords of  an  experiment  made  three  years 
since,  by  my  wife  and  daughters. 

One  of  my  daughters  asked  me  one  day 
if  she  might  not  feed  exclusively  with  the 
Canton ;  I  asked  the  reason ;  she  said,  that 
she  found  that  the  silk-worms  would  leave 
the  foliage  of  the  multicaulis  and  other  va- 
rieties to  feed  upon  the  Canton,  if  that 


48 


LETTERS. 


foliage  was  on  the  table.  I  asked  if  it  was 
really  so.  The  answer  was  affirmative.  I 
then  asked  the  others,  if  they  had  noticed 
a  similar  preference ;  each  replied  in  the 
affirmative;  not  having  so  many  Cantons 
then  as  of  the  other  varieties,  I  permitted 
the  eldest  to  have  her  request,  and  she  took 
one  shelf  from  that  time,  to  feed  exclusively 
with  the  Canton,  and  the  change  was  per- 
ceptible very  soon ;  these  worms  evidently 
increased  in  size  more  than  any  others 
which  were  fed  on  different  foliage ;  so 
much  so  that  visitors  noticed  the  difference, 
and  said  it  ought  to  be  published  in  the 
papers.  In  these  early  days  of  feeding,  we 
had  daily  visitors  from  distant  parts  of  the 
country  ;  and  when  the  cocoons  were  finish- 
ed, I  invited  seven  gentlemen  to  examine 
them  ;  at  which  time  there  happened  to  be 
present  two  gentlemen  from  the  South,  (silk- 
growers.)  —  Rev.  L.  D.  Hatch,  of  Green 
Co.,  Alabama,  and  Dr.  B.  Hill,  of  North 
Carolina,  —  who,  with  other  gentlemen  of 
town,  were  invited  to  examine  the  case. 
The  scales  were  produced,  and  S.  Wells, 
Esq.,  clerk  of  Court,  was  appointed  to  try 
them  by  the  scales  ;  all  of  the  gentlemen 
were  of  unexceptionable  character,  and  dis- 
interested. 

But  Mr.  Wells  tried  various  weighings, 
and  selected  the  largest  of  each  kind,  fed 
on  promiscuous  varieties  —  the  result  was, 
that  five  cocoons  of  the  Canton  feed  were 
as  heavy  as  eight  cocoons  fed  upon  foliage 
of  the  other  varieties. 

JACOB  PRATT,  Sherburne,  Massachusetts. 
—  I  was  not  able  to  keep  as  many  worms 
this  summer  as  I  had  intended  to  do,  in 
consequence  of  the  June  frost;  and  as  my 
hall  which  I  feed  in  is  well  ventilated,  I 
have  not  tried  the  experiment  of  open  feed- 
ing. But  my  experience  has  taught  me 
that  a  free  circulation  of  air,  night  and  day, 
is  indispensable  for  the  health  of  the  worms. 
My  hall  is  about  30  feet  by  18  in  the  second 
story,  over  my  wood-shed,  having  nine  win- 
dows, which  let  down  at  the  top,  and  raise 
at  the  bottom  ;  also  an  opening  on  the  sides, 
one  foot  wide,  with  blinds,  which  may  be 
opened  or  shut  at  pleasure  —  thus  securing 
any  quantity  of  air  desired.  Thus,  you  will 
perceive,  that  I  have  fed  my  worms  almost 
as  open  as  tent  feeding,  as  I  keep  the  hall 
open  night  and  day.  The  lot  of  worms 
which  I  kept  this  season  were  fed  by  my 
two  daughters,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
of  the  last  days,  (the  oldest  fifteen  years  of 
age,)  which  they  did,  besides  helping  do  the 
work  in  the  house,  in  the  same  time.  The 
worms  were  of  the  sulphur  kind,  and  come 
off  about  the  first  of  August,  making  be- 
tween 80  and  90  pounds  of  cocoons  of  the 
first  quality. 

It  has  been  my  object,  from  the  first,  to 
make  the  silk  business  a  part  of  my  farming 
business,  in  order  to  prove,  if  possible,  that 
every  farmer  that  has  a  family  of  children, 
may  raise  silk  without  interfering  essentially 
with  their  other  concerns,  after  a  little  ex- 


perience in  feeding.  I  feel  confident  that, 
if  farmers  would  devote  one  or  two  acres  of 
land  to  raising  trees  and  feeding  from  them, 
they  would  get  more  profit  than  from  raising 
corn  or  potatoes,  and  with  less  labor. 
My  answers,  therefore,  are  : 

1.  I  have  fed  worms,  more  or  less,  for  7 
years,  with  good  success  the  last  years,  and 
always  good  when  fed  the  fore  part  of  the 
season. 

2.  Building  as  above  stated. 

3.  I  prefer  the  sulphur  kind,  on  account 
of  their  being  more  hardy. 

4.  I  use  the  white  and  the  multicaulis. 

5.  I  have  proved   to  my  satisfaction   that 
every  thing  depends  on  early  feeding,  in  this 
part  of  the  country. 

6.  There   have  been   quite   a  number  of 
persons  in  this  vicinity,  who  have  tried  to 
raise  worms,  but  have  failed  on  account  of 
keeping  them  too  close,  and  not  having  suf- 
ficient feed. 

I  have  not  manufactured  much  except 
what  I  have  raised  myself,  which  I  make  in- 
to sewing-silk. 

JOHN  MAYER,  Niconza,  Miami  Co.,  Indi- 
ana. —  We  raised,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
manufactured  into  sewing-silk,  something 
over  $200  worth,  the  last  three  years.  We 
also  reeled  some,  and  had  it  wove  for  ladies' 
dresses,  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio,  by  Mr. 
Gill,  a  sample  of  which  I  enclose.  [A  su- 
perior article.  I.  R.  B.]  In  answer  to  the 
last  inquiry,  I  reply  that  I  am  fully  con- 
firmed in  the  opinion  that  silk-growing  and 
manufacturing  are  worthy  the  attention  of 
American  citizens,  and  that  silk  will  soon 
be  a  staple  product.  There  are  several  others 
in  Wayne  Co.  engaged  in  this  business. 


JONAS  N.  SMITH,  Jiddison,  (near  Chimney 
Point,)  Vt.  —  We  stand  alone,  in  our  town, 
experimenting  a  little  in  growing  silk  for 
our  own  curiosity  and  benefit,  as  well  as  the 
benefit  of  the  community,  if,  through  our 
small  experiments,  they  may  in  any  way  be 
benefited. 

Fed,  this  season,  six  thousand  worms,  sul- 
phur color,  from  white  and  multicaulis  pro- 
miscuously ;  weight  18  pounds.  Some  sick- 
ened and  died,  owing  to  want  of  proper  ven- 
tilation, and  crowded  too  thick  on  the  shelves ; 
fed  in  a  small  room  with  one  door  and  one 
window;  [six  hundred  enough  for  such  a 
room.  I.  R.  B.  ;]  weather  warm,  door 
closed,  window  but  few  inches  raised.  One 
morning  found  worms  sink  and  vomiting ; 
took  up  two  hundred  for  dead  ;  placed  them 
on  a  board  in  an  open  wood-shed ;  next  day 
showed  signs  of  recovering;  ordered  them 
fed  ;  most  of  them  recovered,  and  made  good 
cocoons  almost  in  the  open  air. 

Inclosed  I  send  you  one  dollar,  as  my  mite 
to  help  on  your  efforts  to  establish  the  grow- 
ing of  silk  in  New  England.  The  multicau- 
lis bubble  has  burst :  the  path  to  perseverance 
is  clear ;  and  Yankee  enterprise  will  not  suf- 
fer the  silk-grower  to  retrace  his  steps. 


LETTERS. 


ELDER  DAVID  MITCHELL,  Greenwood 
Farm,  (near  Piqua,)  Miami  Co.,  Oliio.  — 
Your  Circular  has  just  been  put  into  my 
hand  ;  and  1  hasten  to  lay  before  you  such 
facts  as  have  come  under  my  observation. 

I  have  been  feeding  three  years,  but  on  a 
very  limited  scale,  simply  for  making  exper- 
iments. I  have  fed  in  my  own  dwelling- 
house,  in  an  open  stable  with  a  ground  floor, 
and  succeeded  well  in  both  cases;  but  the 
worms  arrived  at  maturity  one  week  sooner 
when  in  the  house,  the  apartment  being  kept 
much  warmer;  but  the  worms  were  not 
healthier  than  in  the  stable;  they  did  ex- 
ceedingly well,  except  this  season.  One  crop 
was  injured  by  the  children's  heating  the 
apartment  too  much ;  and  the  consequence 
was  that  they  were  taken  sick  and  about 
half  died.  I  used  air-slacked  lime  profusely 
once  a  day,  which  completely  stayed  the 
disease  with  a  part,  and  1  never  saw  health- 
ier and  larger  worms,  and  they  spun  the 
largest  cocoons.  I  prefer  the  mammoth  sul- 
phur. I  use  the  multicaulis  ;  cut  the  leaves 
while  the  worm  is  in  its  first  stage  ;  then 
whole  leaves  on  a  shelf,  and  during  the  two 
last  moultings  give  them  the  whole  tree  on 
a  frame,  and  they  turn  down  and  spin  in 
the  brush. 

I  have  always  found  July  feeding  to  be  the 
most  successful.  I  have  now  six  acres  of 
multicaulis,  planted  last  spring,  and  intend 
increasing  to  fourteen  acres  in  a  year  or 
two.  I  intend  planting  in  squares  two  feet 
and  half  apart,  that  they  may  easily  cultivate 
both  ways.  [Altogether  too  thick,  as  the 
mulberry-leaf  requires  sun  and  air  to  be  fit 
food  for  worms.  I.  R.  B.] 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  Rich- 
mond, Indiana,  where  they  have  been  feed- 
ing a  few  years,  and  have  commenced  man- 
ufacturing. You  will  hear  from  them. 
They  have  some  beautiful  specimens  of 
shawls,  vesting,  dress  patterns,  thread,  &c., 
&c. 

In  looking  over  the  present  Tariffbill,  I  find 
that  raw  silk  is  but  50  cents  per  pound.  1 
think  that  quite  too  low,  and  Congress  should 
be  memorialized  on  the  subject. 

From  what  experience  and  information  I 
have  on  the  subject  of  the  silk  business,  I 
believe  that  silk  will  soon  become  a  staple 
commodity  of  American  industry.  I  have 
some  silk  thread,  manufactured  by  Mr.  Til- 
inghaste,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  which  is  pro- 
nounced by  good  judges  to  be  a  first-rate  ar- 
ticle. He  has  a  very  simple  spinning  and 
reeling  machine,  made  in  that  place,  and 
bids  fair  to  do  a  good  business.  It  is  moved 
by  water-power. 

A  number  of  people  in  these  diggins  have 
been  cruelly  bit  by  the  multicaulis5  specula- 
tion, and  all  cry  out  humbug  at  me  for  at- 
tempting to  raise  silk.  I  know  of  no  person 
engaged  in  the  business  within  thirty-five 
miles  of  this  place.  But,  notwithstanding 
their  jeers  and  sneers,  I  am  determined  to 
persevere,  until  I  astonish  some  of  the  na- 
tives. 

I  am  now  engaged  in  farming,  and  intend 
5 


the  growing  of  silk  for  the  present  as  an  ap- 
pendage ;  but  I  expect  soon  to  make  it  the 
principal  business,  and  just  raise  stock  and 
grain  enough  for  family  purposes. 

I  will  be  anxiously  looking  for  your  Report 
at  the  proper  time. 

JEFFREY  HUTCHINSON,  Brooklyn,  JV.  Y. — 
I  use  the  Singapore,  or  large  Nankin,  pea-nut 
worm.  The  eggs  are  larger,  and  of  course 
produce  stronger  and  healthier  worms,  than 
the  other  kinds.  I  think  this  worm  will  pro- 
duce twice  as  much  silk  as  any  other  kind  I 
have  ever  used. 

Answers  to  the  Circular. 

1.  Four  years.     Not  successful  until  I  got 
the  right  kind  of  worms.     First  year  30  Ibs. 
cocoons.     Second  year  90  Ibs.     Third  year 
130  Ibs.     Fourth  year  311  Ibs. 

2.  Building  two  stories,  15  by  20  feet.     I 
warm  it  by  furnaces,  &c.,  while  the  worms 
are  winding. 

3.  No. 

4.  Singapore,  or  Nankin,  pea-nut ;  large 
size. 

5.  Morus  multicaulis.    .No  other  is  worth 
the  trouble,  in  comparison. 

6.  Succeeded  best  by  early  feeding,  until  I 
got  the  Singapore.     Since  then,  I  have  done 
well  in  late  feeding. 

7.  Yes.    Loss  by  neglect  in  feeding,  clean- 
ing, &c. 

8.  No. 

9.  No. 

10.  We  make  all  into  sewings ;  sell  it  for 
four  cents  a  skein.     It  is  preferred  by  many 
to  Italian. 

Question  :  What  do  you  think  of  the  silk- 
culture  for  the  United  States  ? 

Answer  :  I  think  that,  as  a  national  busi- 
ness, there  is  none  more  profitable. 

P.  S.  To  hatch  the  eggs,  I  take  the  rolls 
of  paper  containing  them  to  bed  with  me 
ten  or  fourteen  times,  and  it  does  the  thing. 

HORACE  JANES,  Cornwall,  Vt.  —  It  is 
about  ten  years  since  we  commenced  feed- 
ing worms.  The  most  we  have  fed  in  any 
one  year  is  about  thirty  thousand  ;  the  pres- 
ent year  about  twelve  thousand.  The  re- 
sults, since  the  first  year  or  two,  have  been 
uniformly  successful. 

We  use  a  wood-house  chamber,  which  is 
so  open  that  we  cannot  do  much  to  regulate 
the  temperature,  and  have  attempted  noth- 
ing more  than  to  close  the  windows  in  cold, 
damp  weather ;  think  that  is  all  that  is  ne- 
cessary. 

I  prefer  a  kind  of  worm  we  have  fed  some 
two  or  three  years,  which  was  brought  from 
Springfield,  in  this  State,  without  any  dis- 
tinctive name.  They  are  superior  to  those 
that  have  been  sold  in  this  vicinity.  They 
are  a  large,  grey  worm,  making  a  sulphur- 
colored  cocoon.  Their  age  I  have  not  no- 
ticed particularly,  but  think  the  winding 
mostly  completed  in  six  weeks. 

I  use  the  Italian  white.  They  were  set 
out  in  rows  six  feet  apart,  and  three  feet 
apart  in  the  rows,  and  cultivated  as  long  as 
G 


50 


LETTERS. 


they  would  admit  of  it.  Since  I  stopped  cul- 
tivating, they  have  gradually  declined,  and  I 
have  been  thinning  them  out  with  a  view  to 
commence  cultivating  them  again. 

I  have  a  few  of  the  Alpine,  which  I  like 
well. 

I  have  fed  early.  As  far  as  my  knowledge 
extends,  late  feeding,  in  this  region,  has  not 
been  successful. 

We  have,  from  the  commencement, 
wrought  all  our  cocoons  into  sewing-silk  ;  a 
few  of  the  first  year's  on  a  common  wheel, 
since  then  on  a  machine  I  had  of  John  T. 
Truman,  Esq.,  of  Cornish,  N.  H.,  and  we 
make  a  good  article  and  fair  profit. 

I  have  never  used  the  multicaulis,  as  I 
have  always  supposed  it  would  not  an- 
swer in  our  latitude,  but  hope  I  may  yet  be 
mistaken.  If  it  can  be  made  to  endure  our 
winters,  and  come  forward  in  season  to  carry 
through  a  crop  of  worms  by  the  middle  of 
August,  it  will  do  :  I  doubt  whether  here  we 
shall  find  it  profitable  feeding  much  after  that 
time. 

I  hope  that,  in  the  promised  Report,  the 
compilers  will  be  careful  to  designate  the 
place  or  latitude  in  which  any  experiment 
has  been  made,  when  that  will  be  likely  to 
have  any  influence,  that  silk  culturists  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  may  have  an 
opportunity  to  judge  whether  it  would  be 
likely  to  succeed  in  their  particular  location. 

HARVEY  LOOMIS,  Otisco,  N.  Y.  —  1  have 
this  year  fed  a  few  worms,  the  hatching  of 
what  I  procured  from  two  thirds  of  an  ounce 
of  eggs,  laid  on  paper,  and  taken  from  an  ice- 
house the  20th  of  June.  My  eggs  all  hatched 
the  first  week  of  July.  I  fed  them  on  the 
Italian  and  multicaulis  together,  without  cut- 
ting the  leaves,  for  about  three  weeks.  I 
fed  mostly  wet  leaves  when  I  fed  multicau- 
lis, as  my  trees  were  small,  and  the  leaves 
would  get  dirty  by  the  beating  of  the  rains, 
so  that  I  washed  them  before  feeding.  Af- 
ter that  time  I  fed  from  the  Italian  trees, 
by  cutting  the  sprigs  and  sprouts,  and  lay- 
ing them  on  for  about  two  weeks,  and  then 
fed  mostly  the  multicaulis  until  they  wound. 

My  place  of  feeding  was  a  ball-room  in  a 
public  house,  and  on  tables  covered  with  pa- 
pers. The  windows  were  provided  with 
blinds,  so  that  1  could  shut  the  blinds  and 
open  the  windows  at  pleasure. 
.  When  they  indicated  a  desire  to  wind,  1 

frovided  them  with  bushes  of  various  kinds; 
used  cedar,  chestnut,  oak,  walnut,  beech, 
maple,  and  bass-wood,  arid  I  think  the  bass- 
wood  the  best  of  the  whole  :  the  leaves  are 
large,  and  do  not  curl  much,  and,  by  setting 
them  up  close,  the  worms  will  crawl  in  be- 
tween the  leaves  and  deposit  their  cocoons 
frequently  four  or  five  on  a  leaf,  so  that  it  is 
very  easy  gathering  them.  The  floss  comes 
off  very  clean,  and,  there  being  plenty  of 
room,  very  few  double  ones. 

The  earlier  the  worms  are  fed  after  the 
leaves  start,  1  think,  the  better.  It  has 
proved  invariably  the  case ;  the  latest-fed 
worms  in  this  vicinity  have  been  nearly  or 


quite  a  failure.  I  intend  to  reel  my  silk,  and 
have  provided  myself  with  the  Piedmont 
reel  for  the  purpose. 

IRA  ROWLAND,  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutches* 
Co.,  JV.  F.  —  I  have  had  but  little  experience 
before  the  present  year.  I  had  calculated  on 
feeding  several  crops,  but  the  frost  we  had 
in  June  injured  my  multicaulis  to  such  a  de- 
gree that  1  was  under  the  necessity  of  cut- 
ting them  down  and  hoeing  them  out,  which 
prevented  me  from  hatching  my  worms  be- 
fore 28th  June.  I  then  hatched  about  40  or 
45  thousand.  I  fed  them  the  first  three 
weeks  on  the  Italian,  the  remainder  of  the 
time  on  multicaulis.  When  about  three 
weeks  old,  they  were  too  much  crowded,  in 
consequence  of  not  having  my  feeding  frames 
finished  in  season  to  separate  them,  which 
produced  disease  among  them  before  I  was 
aware  of  it;  by  the  free  use  of  lime  I  soon 
checked  it.  1  had  about  35  thousand,  which 
wound  very  well;  commenced  winding  in 
four  weeks  from  the  time  they  hatched,  and 
produced  101  Ibs.  of  cocoons. 

The  building  used  was  a  carriage-house, 
20  by  24  feet ;  it  was  ventilated  by  three  lat- 
tice window-blinds,  two  at  the  north  and  one 
at  the  south.  I  use  no  thermometer.  1 
never  have  fed  in  an  open  shed.  I  fed  the 
mammoth  pea-nut ;  that  kind,  I  believe,  is 
generally  preferred.  I  have  a  nursery  of 
Italian  rnulberry-trees  about  seven  years  old ; 
they  are  planted  in  drills  about  six  feet  apart. 
I  have  two  acres  of  multicaulis,  which  con- 
tain about  20,000  trees. 

DAVID  S.  HOYT,  Decrfield,  Franklin  Co., 
Mass.  —  1st.  I  have  assisted  in  feeding  worms 
nearly  every  year  since  1828. 

The  general  results  were  favorable ;  our 
worms  being  usually  healthy,  and  producing 
good  cocoons. 

1  however  recollect  one  very  hot  season, 
when  the  worms,  being  kept  in  a  close  cham- 
ber, were  unhealthy  ;  and  the  cocoons  that 
were  made,  although  they  appeared  well, 
would  not  produce  a  single  miller. 

Another  season,  a  healthy  crop  of  worms 
were  just  ready  to  wind,  when  a  violent 
thunder-shower  came  on,  one  night,  with 
more  vivid  lightning  and  louder  thunder 
than  usual.  The  next  morning  at  least  nine 
tenths  of  the  worms  lay  entirely  motionless, 
from  which  state  they  never  recovered.  We 
supposed  this  effect  was  caused  by  electrici- 
ty, but  never  have  heard  of  a  similar  case. 
[Was  the  room  closed  ?—  I.  R.  B.] 

The  20th  of  July,  this  season,  I  hatched 
half  an  ounce  of  eggs,  of  the  pea-nut  kind. 

Kept  them  in  the~house  for  the  first  eight 
or  ten  days,  and  then  removed  them  to  the 
granary  or  corn-house,  a  building  boarded 
tight  on  three  sides,  and  quite  open  on  the 
west,  with  a  large  door  in  the  south.  The 
temperature  was  not  regulated  at  all. 

The  half  ounce  of  eggs  produced  two  and 
a  half  bushels  of  excellent  cocoons. 

I  never  have  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent ; 
but  I  am  satisfied  that  a  tent,  with  the  aides 


LETTERS. 


down,  during  cold,  rainy  days,  and  cold 
nights,  would  be  sufficient  protection  for  the 
worms. 

The  sulphurs  and  the  pea-nuts  are  the 
only  kinds  of  worms  I  have  fed.  I  am  sat- 
isfied that  the  large  pea-nuts  and  large  sul- 
phurs are  the  two  best  varieties  ;  and  that 
there  is  little  difference  between  them  as  to 
profits. 

1  use  the  white  mulberry, principally ;  have 
a  few  Cantons,  from  which  1  cut  nearly  all 
the  young  twigs  and  shoots. 

The  winter  frequently  kills  all  the  young 
wood  that  has  grown  the  preceding  season, 
and  occasionally  some  more.  My  trees  are 
large,  and  my  method  of  gathering  foliage 
is  as  follows  :  With  a  large  knife  I  commence 
at  the  lower  branches  and  trim  off  the 
leaves  and  shoots,  leaving  only  enough  to 
keep  the  tree  alive.  The  trimming  is  effect- 
ed by  striking  with  the  knife  instead  of  cut- 
ting. 

I  have  not  noticed  any  difference  between 
early  and  late  feeding.  I  am  told,  how- 
ever, by  men  of  experience,  that  there  is  a 
difference. 

1  did  not  lose  three  per  cent,  of  my  late 
crop  the  last  season,  and  am  satisfied  that 
those  worms  that  have  attained  their  full 
size,  when  attacked  by  the  yellows,  should 
not  be  destroyed.  Let  them  be  taken  out 
of  the  cocoonery  as  soon  as  the  disease  ap- 
pears, and  be  placed  on  winding  shelves. 
They  will  seldom  eat  after  the  disease  ap- 
pears ;  therefore  the  only  thing  that  can  be 
done  with  them  is  to  place  them  in  a  differ- 
ent air,  and  where  they  can  easily  wind. 
With  this  treatment,  about  thirty-three  per 
cent,  of  my  yellow  worms  produced  tolera- 
bly good  cocoons. 

1  have  ascertained  by  experiment  that  one 
hour's  immersion  in  boiling  ley  will  produce 
such  an  effect  on  the  young  shoots  of  the 
Canton  mulberry,  that  the  bark  may  be 
push:d  off"  with  the  hand. 

Water,  as  far  as  1  have  observed,  has  no 
effect  of  this  kind.  I  also  ascertained  that 
boiling  ley,  poured  on  to  the  smaller  shoots 
in  a  cold  vessel,  and  allowed  to  remain  six- 
teen or  eighteen  hours,  would  produce  the 
aame  effect. 

But,  notwithstanding  the  ease,  rapidity, 
and  certainty  of  this  operation,  I  do  not  think 
it  worth  much,  for  it  does  not  separate  the 
green  bark  from  the  white  substance  that  we 
want,  neither  does  it  seem  to  be  easily  sepa- 
rated in  any  way. 

Silk  may  be  raised  in  New  England  by 
every  person  who  owns,  or  can  hire,  land. 
The  experiments  in  feeding,  and  indeed  in 
every  part  of  the  business,  within  two  or 
three  years  past,  have  established  facts  enough 
with  regard  to  the  proper  management  of 
worms  to  enable  any  person  of  moderate  in- 
genuity to  become,  with  a  little  attention,  a 
successful  silk-grower. 

If  cloth  tents  or  sheds  prove  to  be  sufficient 
protection  for  worms,  and  Mr.  Gill's  feeding 
cradle  is  what  he  thinks  it  is,  the  silk  busi- 


ness must  speedily  become  as  extensive  as 
any  business  in  the  United  States. 

LEONARD  AND  HEPSY  FARGO,  Pittsfordl 
Vt.  —  l  will  state  a  few  facts  respecting  the 
silk  business,  from  our  own  experience.  We 
were  the  first  that  brought  silk- worms  and 
mulberry-trees  into  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try. My  native  place  is  Connecticut,  and 
my  employment,  when  young,  was  to  make 
silk.  My  father  moved  to  Vermont,  where 
there  was  not  a  mulberry-tree  or  a  silk- worm 
scarcely  ever  seen.  I  brought  some  silk  with 
me,  of  my  own  manufacturing,  which  the 
people  rather  disputed  that  I  made  it  by 
worms.  I  still  had  the  same  anxiety  to 
feed  silk-worms.  I  was  confident  I  could 
make  silk  in  Vermont  as  well  as  in  Con- 
necticut, if  I  could  get  the  leaves.  Accord- 
ingly, I  sent  to  Boston  and  obtained  two 
ounces  of  white  mulberry-seed,  and  sent  to 
Connecticut  and  obtained  one  hundred  eggs, 
of  which  I  saved  only  forty.  The  second 
year  J  fed  five  hundred,  the  third  year  nine 
thousand,  the  fourth  year  thirty  thousand, 
and  had  leaves  enough  to  feed  as  many  more, 
but  not  house-room.  We  have  to  manage 
differently  here  from  what  they  do  at  the 
South.  Our  springs  are  backward  ;  it  makes 
our  second  crop  late.  I  am  now  reeling. 
This  is  the  fifth  day.  I  have  reeled  fifty 
runs.  1  have  twenty  thousand  more  to  reel 
this  week.  I  will  send  you  a  specimen  of  my 
silk,  and  should  be  highly  gratified  to  attend 
the  Convention,  but  the  distance,  and  multi- 
plicity of  business,  forbid. 

We  believe  the  silk  business  to  be  good, 
and  that  it  will  prosper. 

MADAME  BALD  WIN,  New  Haven,  Ct. — [lam 
somewhat  at  a  loss  whether  I  am  at  liberty  to 
give  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  re- 
ceived from  Dr.  Stebbins  a  day  or  two  after 
he  returned  from  the  Convention.  But,  on 
the  whole,  I  risk  it.  The  exhibition  which  I 
made  of  the  silk  journal  of  Dr.  Stiles  at  the 
Convention,  the  interest  which  this  old  mon- 
ument of  his  industry  and  philanthropy  awa- 
kened, the  fact  that  there  were  then  some 
fifty  families  in  New  Haven  engaged  in  the 
business,  and  now  the  fact  that  we  have  dis- 
covered a  connecting  link  between  that  gen- 
eratio^|f  silk-growers  and  the  present  — 
more  ei^ecially,  to  preserve  and  bring  into 
use  the  good  lady's  plan  of  winding  ; -4- all 
this  must  be  my  apology,  if  the  case  needs 
one.  I.  R.  B.] 

"  At  New  Haven,  I  called  on  the  lady  of 
Judge  Baldwin,  who  fed  worms  at  the  time 
of  President  Stiles,  who  daily  visited  her  and 
them.  She  had  good  success,  and  was  as 
enthusiastic  as  the  President  himself.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  the  great  Roger  Sher- 
man. She  is  (as  the  Judge  said)  in  favor  of 
shelf-feeding  ;  but,  on  explaining  to  her  the 
cradle-system  of  Mr.  Gill,  she  acceded  to  its 
superiority.  She  was  greatly  in  favor  of  her 
own  plan  of  a  winding  apparatus,  viz.,  to  fold 
paper  like  a  fan.  She  said  the  worms  would 


52 


LETTERS. 


readily  ascend  and  form  cocoons  close  to 
each  other,  from  top  to  bottom,  in  each  fold. 
This  fan  must  be  suspended  over  the  worms 
—  the  wide-spread  part  within  their  reach  — 
a  good  contrivance.  I  was  delighted  with 
the  good  lady's  description  of  olden  time," 
&c. 

JOHN  W.  AVERY,  Morrisville,  Madison 
Co.,  JV.  F.  —  I  have  been  engaged,  in  a  small 
way,  in  the  silk  business  for  about  four  years ; 
the  first  two  years  experimenting  on  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  mulberry,  the  different  vari- 
eties, being  doubtful  at  first  whether  the  soil 
and  climate  where  I  reside  would  suit  that 
shrub,  and  at  the  same  time  we  fed  a  few 
worms.  The  results  satisfied  me  that  the 
silk  culture  is  practicable  in  this  region  ;  and 
accordingly  I  made  my  calculations  to  go 
ahead  in  the  business.  Last  year,  we  (that 
is,  my  family)  started  with  what  we  esti- 
mated to  be  about  20,000  worms,  of  the  grey 
sulphur  variety ;  fed  them  on  shelves  in  the 
chamber  of  our  dwelling-house.  The  worms 
were  healthy  and  made  good  cocoons ;  sixty- 
two  and  a  half  pounds  was  the  weight,  from 
which  was  reeled  six  and  one  fourth  pounds. 
We  fed  from  the  white  mulberry  at  first,  and 
closed  up  with  the  multicaulis,  used  no  lime. 
Manufactured  the  silk  into  sewings.  It  was 
said  to  be  equal  to  the  imported  ;  the  manu- 
facturer obtained  the  first  premium  at  the 
County  Fair.  We  had  to  go  two  miles  for 
most  of  our  leaves. 

This  season  we  concluded  to  feed  what  we 
could  from  our  own  stock  of  mulberry,  which 
was  small.  We  therefore  commenced  with 
about  eight  or  ten  thousand  worms,  which 
were  hatched  about  the  18th  of  July. 

The  worms  soon  discovered  signs  of  dis- 
ease, and  we  daily  lost  some  of  them,  not- 
withstanding we  made  a  free  use  of  lime,  and 
other  remedies,  such  as  vinegar  and  water, 
with  tansy  and  wormwood  soaked  therein, 
sprinkled  upon  the  worms,  and  the  herbs 
laid  about  upon  the  shelves,  until  after  the 
fourth  moulting.  From  that  time  they  had  a 
better  appearance,  and  made  good  cocoons, 
which  weighed  eighteen  and  a  half  pounds, 
from  which  was  reeled  two  pounds,  besides 
some  saved  for  seed.  These  were  fed  in  the 
chamber,  and  mostly  on  the  multicaulis.  I 
have  enlarged  my  stock  of  mulhwpy  this 
season,  so  that  I  shall  have  abOTe  three 
fcwfUhs  of  an  acre  to  use  next  year,  and  a  few 
of  the  white  mulberry.  I  intend  to  in- 
crease my  stock  of  multicaulis,  and  erect  a 
suitable  building  for  a  cocoonery. 

The  soil  of  land  where  my  trees  grow  is 
not  the  best.  It  is  a  reddish  loam,  inclining 
to  clay,  which  holds  the  water  too  long ;  but 
it  is  the  best  I  have.  Some  of  the  roots 
winter-kill.  I  cut  the  tops  off  in  the  fall, 
and  save  them  to  plant.  There  is  no  other 
person  doing  any  thing  at  the  silk  business 
in  this  town,  though  there  are  some  making 
small  preparations  for  the  business,  through 
my  influence.  Others  are  waiting  to  see 
those  get  rich,  as  they  say,  before  they  go 
into  it. 


Skepticism  and  doubts  are  vanishing,  and 
many  are  inclined  to  consider  it  a  practicable, 
if  not  a  profitable,  branch  of  business. 

By  sending  me  any  publications  relating 
to  the  silk  business,  you  will  greatly  oblige 
one  who  Avishes  information  011  the  subject, 
and  who  believes  it  to  be  a  great  national 
enterprise. 

E.  L.  NEWTON,  Mhens,  Georgia.  —  I  have 
been  engaged  only  two  years  in  the  silk  busi- 
ness. I  have  a  very  fine  orchard  of  the  mul- 
ticaulis, of  about  7  acres  ;  the  trees  are  four 
years  old.  I  have  a  cocoonery  36  by  40,  two 
stories,  and  well  filled  with  shelves ;  and, 
under  every  shelf,  lattice- work  for  the  worms 
to  wind  in.  Last  year  I  made  about  ten 
bushels  of  first-rate  cocoons,  but,  not  being 
acquainted  with  the  process  of  reeling,  1  did 
but  little  with  them.  My  main  object,  how- 
ever, was  to  ascertain  what  could  be  done  in 
raising  silk-worms,  so  as  to  have  a  succession 
of  crops  :  which  was  satisfactory,  and  which 
I  deemed  of  great  importance  to  the  ultimate 
success  of  the  business.  As  our  seasons  in 
this  climate  are  much  longer  than  they  are 
in  your  State,  it  gives  us  a  decided  advan- 
tage in  the  number  of  crops  we  can  raise  in 
the  season.  Our  climate,  I  presume,  also 
suits  the  multicaulis  better ;  as  our  winters 
are  more  mild  and  not  so  long,  our  trees  are 
not  injured  at  all  except  the  tops,  which  are 
not  matured.  Our  first  crop  hatched  about 
the  1st  of  April ;  as  they  commenced  wind- 
ing, I  exposed  the  second  crop  of  eggs,  which 
I  had  kept  in  an  ice-house  ;  and  so  also  with 
the  third;  and  I  believe  a  fourth  crop  might 
be  made  in  a  season,  as  we  seldom  have  a 
frost  before  the  10th  of  October.  Thus  the 
hands  may  be  employed  during  most  of  the 
year  in  feeding  and  reeling.  And  while  on 
this  subject,  I  will  express  my  strong  con- 
viction of  the  wonderful  adaptation  of  the 
multicaulis  to  the  business.  I  had  not  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  worms  to  consume  all  the 
foliage  ;  I  thereupon  required  the  hands  to 
feed  from  a  particular  part,  so  as  to  make  it 
very  bare.  This  would  put  out  a  new  set  of 
foliage,  which  would  be  in  time  to  supply 
the  next  crop  with  young  and  tender  leaves, 
suitable  to  the  age  of  the  worm.  This  I  con- 
sider an  important  discovery,  as  the  young 
worm  would  scarcely  be  able  to  subsist  on 
the  old,  tough  leaf. 

1  have  the  black  and  the  white  worm, 
which  produce  variously-colored  cocoons, 
viz.,  sulphur,  orange,  white,  green,  and  Nan- 
kin. I  have  also  the  pea-nut,  but,  not  being 
able  to  reel,  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  which 
variety  is  the  best.  I  plant  my  trees  about 
five  feet  apart,  in  rows,  and  cut  every  other 
row  down,  each  year,  within  about  six  or 
eight  inches  of  the  ground.  Early  feeding 
has  been  with  me  the  best. 

A  decided  and  growing  interest  is  felt  in 
our  State  on  this  subject,  and  particularly  in 
our  village.  I  have  many  friends  and  neigh- 
bors who  are  looking  to  me  to  get  informa- 
tion, desirous  to  know  my  success.  And 
one  object  I  have  in  this  communication  is 


LETTERS. 


Greely  &  McElrath,  of  New  York,  have  just 
published  a  work  on  Silk,  (I  send  Mr.  N.  a 
copy,)  admirably  suited  to  just  such  cases. 
Chapter  on  Reeling,  p.  53;  Drawing  of  a 
Reel,  p.  58.  —  I.  R.  B.] 


DR.  DYER  STORY,   Windsor,  Vt.  —  I  send 


to  solicit  your  aid  in  procuring  a  suitable  per- 
son, who  may  be  relied  on,  to  come  to  this 
place  and  undertake  the  business.  I  would 
prefer  a  young  man,  if  such  can  be  procured, 
who  is  acquainted  with  the  process  of  reel- 
ing as  well  as  of  feeding.  Several  hundred 
bushels  of  cocoons  might,  and  would  be 
made,  in  this  neighborhood,  if  they  could  be 

disposed  of.     One  family,  within  seven  miles    you  a  brief  statement  of  what  two  of  the 
of  this,  has  made  thirty  yards  of  beautiful    younger  members  of  my  family  have  done  in 
silk,  and  have  made  it  up  into  ladies'  dresses, 
and  it  is  not  inferior  to  the  best  French  or 
English  in  appearance.     Many  others  have 
made  considerable  sewing-silk,  which  is  said 
to  be  superior  to  the  imported  article.     All 
we  lack  is  a  person  who  understands  reeling. 
Send  us  a  reel,  and  a  person  who  can  use  it, 


and  we  will  succeed. 

1  know  great  prejudices  exist  in  the  North- 
ern States  against  the  health  of  our  Southern 
States.  But  our  village  is  healthy.  We  are 
at  the  head  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Georgia  rail-road  ;  our  place  is  destined  soon 
to  be  a  place  of  great  business,  and  has  for 
many  years  been  the  resort  of  those  seeking 
health,  so  that  undoubted  evidence  may  be 
obtained  of  the  health  of  the  place. 

I  would  be  pleased  to  receive  a  copy  of 
your  contemplated  Report. 

[I  give  the  above  interesting  letter  almost 
entire.  I  give  it  as  an  expression  of  the 
feelings  cherished  extensively  at  the  South, 
and  Southwest,  and  West  —  confidence  in 
the  merits  of  the  silk  business,  and  afc  ardent 
desire  to  get  practical  reelers  from  the  East, 
and  reels.  To  all  which  Mr.  N.,  I  know,  will 
allow  me  to  say  two  things:  —  (1.)  Good 
reelers  are  hard  to  be  got,  even  here,  and  ask 
high  wages  —  higher  than  the  business  will 
fairly  justify  —  still  higher,  to  go  five  hundred 
or  a  thousand  miles.  (2.)  We  will,  any  of 
us,  cheerfully  buy  and  send  you  a  good  reel : 
price  from  $5  to  $10,  according  to  kind  pur- 
chased. But  I  can  point  out  to  you,  and 
others  similarly  situated,  a  better  way.  It  is, 
to  take  a  drawing  of  a  reel  and  make  one 
yourself,  or  set  any  mechanic  of  ordinary 
ingenuity  at  it.  Then  take  any  active,  per- 
severing female,  (white  or  colored,)  and  offer 
her  a  suitable  reward,  to  awaken  and  fix  an 
interest :  say,  if  you  please,  offer  her  the 
avails  of  the  first  pound  of  silk  that  she  will 
reel  so  as  to  be  worth  $5,  and  you  have  done 
the  thing.  You  have  got  your  reel  and  your 
reeler.  What  though  she  may  waste  or  in- 
iure  a  bushel  or  two  of  cocoons  in  the  pro- 
cess ?  That  is  nothing.  Any  girl  of  quick 
perceptions,  interested  in  the  matter,  can  do 
this  thing,  and  do  it  well  in  three  to  six  days, 
and  in  three  to  six  weeks  do  a  day's  work. 
In  this  connection  I  would  say,  that  Messrs. 


;he  silk  business  the  present  season. 

The  eggs  from  which  the  worms  were 
latched  were  laid  upon  papers,  which  were 
folded  up,  and  hung  upon  a  beam  in  the 
cellar,  until  the  opening  of  the  spring,  when 
they  were  removed  to  a  hole  dug  in  my 
cellar,  large  enough  to  receive  a  box  four 
feet  square,  made  of  inch  boards,  and  sur- 
rounded with  spent  bark  from  the  tanneries, 
on  the  sides  and  beneath,  about  six  inches 
thick.  The  top  of  the  box,  which  is  even 
with  the  bottom  of  the  cellar,  is  furnished 
with  folding  doors.  Here  they  remained  till 
about  the  10th  of  July,  when  those  for  the 
first  crop  were  brought  up  and  exposed,  and 
in  due  time  produced  their  worms,  the  pro- 
of incubation  not  having  commenced 
till  thus  exposed.  And  here  1  will  take  oc- 
casion to  remark,  that  what  remained  were 
taken  out  on  the  25th  September,  and  ap- 
peared in  as  good  condition  as  when  put  in. 
This  crop  was  fed  upon  the  leaves  of  the 
white  mulberry,  were  very  healthy,  and  pro- 
duced forty-one  and  a  half  pounds  of  cocoons. 
A  part  of  these  worms  were  fed  in  an  out- 
building, 16  feet  square,  boarded  with  rough 
boards,  and  the  crevices  battened  with  half- 
inch  stuff,  to  render  it  somewhat  warmer, 
and  to  prevent  the  rays  of  the  sun  from  fall- 
ing upon  them.  This  room  was  ventilated 
by  opening  a  window,  four  feet  square,  on 
the  west  side,  and  by  a  large  door  which  was 
open  when  any  one  went  in ;  but,  when  no 
one  was  present,  it  was  kept  shut  to  keep 
hens  out.  After  the  third  moulting,  the 
worms  were  fed  upon  frames,  covered  with 
straw,  first  with  branches  and  afterwards 
with  leaves  ;  and  although  not  cleansed  after 
this  time,  they  were  perfectly  healthy,  not 
one  per  cent,  dying  from  disease  or  sickness 
of  any  kind.  The  rest  of  this  crop  were  fed 
in  the  chamber  of  my  wood  and  carriage- 
house,  one  window  in  each  end,  and  the  floor 
made  of  loose  boards.  They  were  fed  on 
solid  board  shelves,  and  although  not  cleans- 
ed after  the  third  moulting,  they  were  as 
healthy  as  the  others.  They  spun  their  co- 
coons in  three  different  kinds  of  fixtures  :  — 
1st.  In  roofs,  suspended  over  the  feeding- 
frames,  made  of  very  thin  laths,  cut  by  a 
circular  saw,  having  mounting  ladders,  made 
of  the  same  materials,  an  eighth  of  an  inch 
thick  and  one  and  a  half  inch  wide.  These 
they  readily  climb,  and  thereby  enter  the 
roofs.  2dly.  In  shelves,  made  of  half-inch 
boards,  six  inches  wide,  long  enough  to  cross 
the  feeding-frames,  and  a  ledge  nailed  across 
each  end,  about  an  inch  thick  ;  so,  by  placing 
a  sufficient  number  on  the  top  of  each  other, 
they  form  a  convenient  retreat  for  the  worms, 


LETTERS. 


which  they  fill  with  their  cocoons,  and 
which  are  easily  gathered.  These  shelves, 
however,  should  be  divided  lengthwise  by  a 
thin  lath ;  which,  rendering  the  aperture 
more  dark,  and  presenting  more  angles  to 
attach  their  floss  to,  they  would  be  less  dis- 
posed to  wander  about,  before  commencing 
their  cocoons.  3dly.  In  straw.  Small  bun- 
dles about  as  large  as  the  wrist,  and  long 
enough  to  stand  upright  between  the  feed- 
ing-frames, being  tied  near  the  lower  end, 
and  the  top  spread  out,  and  the  straw  crum- 
pled and  bent  in  various  directions,  afford 
them  great  facilities  for  attaching  their  co- 
coons, and  which  they  seem  to  prefer  to  any 
other.  An  hundred  and  twenty  1  picked 
out  of  one  of  these  small  bundles.  A  second 
crop  have  now  nearly  completed  their  spin- 
ning, and  have  been  about  as  healthy  as 
the  first :  although,  from  their  having  been 
crowded  too  thickly  upon  the  shelves,  some 
of  them  were  not  of  course  full  fed,  and,  in 
consequence,  lagged  behind  till  disease  and 
death  overtook  them.  These  errors  must 
be  avoided  next  year. 

I  have  thought  proper  to  give  this  brief 
account ;  for,  although  the  operation  is  small 
and  unimportant,  yet  it  shows  what  may  be 
done  on  a  more  extended  scale.  I  have 
read,  and  thought,  much  upon  this  business 
for  the  last  ten  years,  and  have  been  fully 
convinced  that  it  will  ultimately  become  an 
object  of  great  national  importance,  and  that 
our  silk  product  will  one  day  be  second  to 
no  other ;  and,  had  it  not  been  for  a  con- 
tinual press  of  professional  business,  I  should 
at  this  time  have  been  fully  engaged  in  the 
business. 

CYRENIUS  HAIT,  Somerset,  Pulasld  Co., 
Ky.  —  1st.  I  have  been  feeding  silk- worms 
for  three  years  in  a  small  way,  in  a  common 
building,  without  any  way  to  regulate  the 
temperature  at  all. 

2d.  The  first  year  I  fed  the  greater  part 
of  our  worms  on  the  black,  or  native,  mul- 
berry. The  silk  was  strong,  but  not  as 
glossy  and  fine  as  the  two  last  years.  While 
we  have  fed  on  the  multicaulis,  our  worms 
have  done  far  better  than  I  had  reason  to 
expect,  as  the  only  knowledge  I  had  was 
drained  from  the  Silk  Journal.  3d.  I  have 
never  fed  in  an  open  shed.  4th.  I  think  the 
pea-nut  variety  preferable  to  any  I  have 
tried.  5th.  I  am  now  cultivating  the  mul- 
ticaulis, and  am  well  pleased  with  that 
variety  :  have  about  15  acres  well  set,  and 
they  stand  the  winters  well.  I  intend  top- 
ping to  what  we  call  low-branch,  as  the 
leaves  are  larger  and  more  convenient  to 
gather.  6th.  Our  early  feeding  has  general- 
ly done  the  best.  7th.  The  only  difficulty, 
with  our  neighbors,  seems  to  have  originatec 
from  want  of  cleanliness  and  room ;  say  in 
4th  age,  sometimes  a  room  shut  tight  over 
night.  8th.  Have  no  knowledge  of  the  use 
of  mulberry  for  paper.  9th.  I  never  have 
seen  any  thing  like  water-rotting  mulberry 
for  any  purpose. 

I  purchased  a  Piedmontese  reel  in  Phil 


delphia  three  years  since,  and  reel  all  our 

wn  silk,  some  of  which  I  send  east  to  find 
a  market.  I  suppose  fifty  pounds  will  be 
something  like  the  amount  I  shall  reel  this 
season,  besides  what  we  use  for  sewings  in 
this  neighborhood. 

I  shall  be  able,  after  the  legislature  con- 

enes,  to  give  an  entire  account  of  all  silks 
grown  in  our  State,  as  the  receipts  will 

how,  through  the  Auditor  of  Public  Ac- 
counts. 1  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that 

"Ik  is  to  give  employment  to  multitudes  in 
the  United  States. 

JAMES  UNDERHILL,  Constantia,  Orange 
Co.,  JV.  Y.  —  I  am  a  silk-grower.  In  1S40, 
[  fed  about  500  worms  with  good  success. 
In  1841, 1  succeeded  in  raising  39  pounds  co- 
oons.  Did  middling  well.  I  had  no  place 
for  keeping  them  but  the  chamber  of  my 
log-house.  Some  died ;  but  my  inexperience, 
and  want  of  a  suitable  place,  explains  the 
whole.  Convinced  that  the  silk  business 
would  be  a  permanent  business  in  this  coun- 
try, I  entered  into  partnership,  in  1842,  with 
Curtis  R.  Cable,  for  four  years.  The  fi  *st 
year  the  building  was  new  and  green,  and 
very  damp.  My  worms  died  very  much.  I 
succeeded  in  raising  159  pounds.  Our  co- 
coonery is  eighteen  feet  wide,  eighty-eight 
feet  long,  one  and  a  half  stories  high ;  a 
ground-floor,  well  ventilated  at  the  top  and 
bottom,  by  means  of  a  swing-board,  so  as  to 
open  a  space  nine  inches  wide  from  one  end 
to  the  other,  top  and  bottom.  But  1  did  not 
give  fr^h  air  enough,  kept  the  ventilators 
shut  nights,  and  when  the  weather  was  cool  ; 
but  I  have  learned  that  one  cold  night,  un- 
less it  is  cold  enough  to  freeze  the  worm's, 
will  not  hurt  them,  it  only  renders  them 
torpid  and  stops  the  growth  ;  but  worms 
will  not  be  as  likely  to  be  sickly  in  a  tem- 
perature of  65°  as  75°  ;  but  will  spin  much 
sooner  in  a  temperature  of  75°  than  65°. 
In  1843,  I  have  already  gathered  390  pounds 
cocoons,  although  I  have  had  some  losses. 
My  first  crop  did  well,  1  had  249  pounds 
cocoons.  My  second,  although  I  hatched 
twice  as  many  eggs,  made  but  131  pounds 
cocoons.  My  third  was  as  large  as  my 
second,  but  I  shall  not  have  more  than  25 
pounds  cocoons.  But  I  have  a  large  crop 
of  worms,  my  fourth  crop ;  they  moulted 
the  second  time,  September  16th,  and  are 
doing  first-rate.  I  think  I  shall  make  a 
living  this  year,  and  that  is  about  all.  But 
I  am  not  discouraged.  We  sent  to  Connec- 
ticut and  got  a  young  woman  to  come  and 
learn  us  to  reel ;  my  wife  and  daughter  are 
reeling  daily.  They  reel  three-quarters  of  a 
pound  per  day,  and  it  looks  very  well.  We 
have  reeled  already  38  pounds  of  silk.  1 
prefer  the  Sina  mirabel  worms ;  they  are,  1 
think,  much  hardier  than  the  pea-nut. 

There  are  several  persons  in  the  business 
within  a  mile  of  this  village,  and  several 
more  that  intend  to  do  something  at  feeding 
next  season.  Lyman  Sperry  has  raised  ris 
ing  of  40  pounds  of  cocoons  this  season  • 
had  some  bad  luck ;  fell  short  of  leaves ;  had 


LETTERS. 


his  worms  crowded.  Miss  Cable  fed  two 
crops  with  good  success ;  had  70  pounds 
cocoons,  principally  the  Sina  mirabels,  and  a 
few  of  the  Nankin  inirabels.  Sareno  Clark, 
Esq.,  has  fed  a  few  as  his  first  crop,  and  had 
14  pounds  cocoons ;  his  second  crop  has 
done  lirst-rate,  lost  scarcely  a  worm,  and  had 
21  pounds  cocoons.  Sina  mirabels,  or  white 
miraoels.  William  Wright  has  raised  a  few 
cocoons  last  year  and  this  year  with  good 
success. 

1  find,  by  experience,  that  sifting  a  coat 
of  quicklime  on  the  shelf  before  putting  the 
worms  on,  will  prevent  the  latter  from  get- 
ting damp  and  sticking  to  the  shelf.  I  have 
used  some  lime  on  my  worms,  and  think  it 
good.  It  absorbs  the  moisture,  and  keeps 
the  skin  of  the  worm  dry.  I  have  used 
chloride  of  lime,  standing  about  in  dishes, 
this  season.  1  think  it  is  very  good.  I  feed 
on  multicaulis  exclusively,  about  eight  acres 
of  trees ;  two  or  three  acres  have  been  stand- 
ing three  years,  the  rest  were  planted  in 
the  spring  of  1842.  They  are  planted  in 
rows,  3£  feet  apart  by  2  feet.  They  were 
all  cut  off  to  the  ground  last  spring.  They 
are  now  from  3  to  6  feet  high.  Our  trees 
killed  down  in  the  winter;  but  if  they  did 
not,  I  should  cut  them  off  every  spring. 
The  ground  was  in  good  order  when  they 
were  planted.  It  has  not  been  manured 
since,  but  has  been  well  tilled. 

M.  P.  H.  JONES,  Carthagena,  Mercer  Co., 
Ohio.  —  I  am  one  of  the  colored  settlement 
in  this  place.  We  have  forsaken  the  cities, 
and  the  employments  in  which  we  were 
formerly  engaged,  and  in  which  so  many  of 
our  brethren  are  still  engaged,  and  have 
taken  up  lands,  believing  this  to  be  the  best 
course  for  ourselves  and  our  race.  We 
wish  to  be  something,  and  therefore  we 
must  do  something. 

We  are  engaged  in  general  farming. 
Some  of  us  have  thought  a  good  deal  about 
silk.  Some  silk  publications  have  fallen  in 
our  way.  Some  friend  at  the  East  has  sent 
us  two  or  three  copies  of  the  Report  of  the 
New  England  Silk  Convention.  We  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  them  with  glad- 
ness. We  have  also  seen  some  of  Mr.  Gill's 
letters,  published  in  the  Cross  and  Journal. 
I  read  some  of  these  silk  documents  before 
a  portion  of  our  settlement.  They  are  in- 
terested. How  much  they  will  do  I  cannot 
say.  Our  friend  A.  W.  is  in  the  business, 
in  a  small  way.  I  intend  to  see  what  I  can 
do  in  the  matter,  and  give  the  business  all 
the  encouragement  in  my  power.  We  want 
information  on  the  subject  —  shall  be  thank- 
ful for  any  thing  of  the  kind,  or  any  thing 
else  that  tends  to  our  elevation, 

JAMES  LANDERS,  Lee,  Mass.  —  I  have  fed 
silk-worms,  on  a  limited  scale,  for  four  years 
past.  The  first  year,  I  fed  the  two-crop 
variety ;  and,  as  it  was  the  first  effort,  they 
did,  as  we  thought,  remarkably  well.  I  had 
to  go  abroad  so  much  after  feed,  that  there 
was  no  honor  or  profit  in  the  business,  ex- 


cept to  learn  how  to  avoid  being  caught  in 
such  a  scrape  again.  The  building  1  used 
is  a  chamber  under  the  roof,  and  a  very  b^iii 
place  it  is,  1  assure  you.  1  had  no  way  01 
regulating  the  heat  or  cold,  but  by  openmg 
or  closing  two  or  three  windows ;  and  it 
silk- worms  were  not  as  sure  a  crop,  un^-i 
unfavorable  circumstances,  as  any  other,  i 
am  sure  I  should  have  lost  all  of  mine.  1 
have  this  year  fed  a  part  of  my  worms  in 
an  open  shed  ;  and  all  the  trouble  1  expi  - 
rienced  from  it  was,  that  it  waa  too  open, 
having  but  little  more  than  a  temp  >rar . 
roof  for  a  covering.  My  worms  did  well  >u 
this  shed ;  but  I  think  they  were  a  week 
or  ten  days  longer  coming  to  maturity,  ow- 
ing to  the  coldness  of  many  nights,  and 
some  days,  which  prevented  their  ieeding 
as  fast  as  they  would  with  a  more  even 
temperature.  Here  I  would  state  my  opin- 
ion, on  this  part  of  the  subject,  and  it  is 
probably  the  sentiment  of  all  who  have  had 
four  or  five  years'  experience  in  feeding.  It 
is,  that  plenty  of  room,  plenty  of  good  fresh 
leaves,  and  plenty  of  pure  air,  witli  an  even 
temperature,  will  almost  invariably  produce 
a  rich  crop  of  silk.  I  think  Mr.  Gill's  Feed- 
ing Cradle  is  a  labor-saving  machine  in  this 
part  of  the  business,  a  decided  improvement 
over  every  other  plan  of  feeding.  I  would 
suggest,  in  regard  to  a  building  for  feeding, 
a  room  similar  to  a  drying-loft  in  a  paper- 
mill.  They  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  letting 
in  and  shutting  out  fresh  air  at  pleasure.  1 
prefer  the  large  Nankin  pea-nut. 

The  kind  of  trees  that  I  use,  are  the  mul- 
ticaulis,  alpine,  and  Italian.  As  to  the  man- 
aging of  them,  I  keep  the  ground  tilled  be- 
tween  the  rows,  and  take  oft'  leaves,  and  cut 
off  branches,  to  feed,  as  occasion  requires. 
I  let  them  stand  out  through  the  winter, 
and  the  tops  that  are  killed  by  the  frost  are 
headed  down  in  the  spring,  and  an  abun- 
dance of  fresh  stock  comes  up,  looking  like 
a  swamp.  The  multicaulis  kills  no  worse, 
with  me,  than  the  other  kinds ;  and  I  think 
that  if  the  ground  is  frozen  hard  they  would 
not  be  injured  at  all.  I  find  that  fruit  and 
other  trees  are  injured  the  most,  when  there 
is  the  least  frost  in  the  ground.  In  conclu- 
sion, I  would  state,  that  it  is  my  firm  be- 
lief that  the  raising  of  silk,  in  this  country, 
is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  most  honorable 
and  profitable  employments  that  we  can  en- 
gage in. 

I.  R.  BARBOUR,  Oxford,  Mass.  — It  is  fif- 
teen years  since  I  began  to  examine  the  silk 
business  as  a  permanent  branch  of  American 
labor,  and  seven  or  eight  that  I  have  been 
engaged  in  it  more  or  less.  The  whole  re- 
sult is,  an  unshaken  confidence  in  all  the 
great  principles  on  which  the  business  is 
based. 

My  business  has  not  been  large.  I  began 
with  a  $  5  investment,  and  have  grown  co- 
coons enough  to  make  from  three  to  thirty- 
seven  pounds  of  reeled  silk  in  a  year. 

The  results  of  my  own  labors  are  decided- 
ly in  favor  of  early  feeding.  Out  of  all  the 


56 


LETTERS. 


crops  that  I  have  carried  through  by  the 
middle  of  August,  1  have  never  lost,  by  dis- 
ease, five  per  cent,  in  any  case.  Not  so  with 
later  crops,  generally,  although  this  year  my 
later  crops  were  healthy,  and  made  first-rate 
cocoons.  My  healthy  crops  have  always 
given  me  a  better  profit  than  any  thing  else 
on  the  farm. 

As  to  buildings,  I  have  fed  in  a  large  open 
garret,  in  a  corn-house,  and  a  carpenter's 
shop.  In  1840,  built  a  regular  cocoonery, 
thirty  by  twenty  feet,  two  stories  high,  with 
ten  windows  in  each  story,  and  warmed  by 
a  hot-air  chamber  in  the  cellar.  In  1842,  fed 
a  lot  also  in  an  open  sited,  and  this  year  in  a 
tent,  with  cradles,  on  Mr.  Gill's  plan.  The 
result  of  the  whole  is,  in  my  judgment,  the 
more  air  the  better;  only  guarding  against 
sudden  gusts  of  wind,  that  will  disturb  your 
leaves  or  bushes. 

As  to  ordinary  turns  of  cold  weather,  in 
our  summer  months,  their  effect  is  to  render 
the  worms  torpid.  Of  course,  they  will  not, 
in  this  state,  eat  and  grow,  and  there  is  a 
loss  of  time  in  getting  them  through  ;  and 
this  is  the  only  loss  to  be  apprehended. 
Upon  returning  warmth,  they  revive,  and  go 
on  with  their  wondrous  labors,  apparently 
uninjured  by  their  temporary  interruption  — 
like  the  honey-bee,  the  house-fly,  and  other 
insects  subject  to  torpidity  in  a  low  tempera- 
ture. 

But,  as  I  have  given  my  views  to  the  pub- 
lic in  full  on  this  whole  subject,  in  a  very 
valuable  collection  of  Silk  Documents,  just 
published  by  Messrs.  Greely  and  McElrath, 
New  York,  I  pass  to  another  topic,  on  which 
your  correspondents  have  said  little,  and  on 
which  my  experience  has  been  quite  full 
and  quite  disastrous  —  I  mean,  in  the  man- 
agement of  trees.  I  do  this,  because  the 
design  of  the  Institute  is  to  collect  facts,  as 
they  have  occurred  in  the  experience  of 
individuals,  for  purposes  of  instruction  to 
others,  as  the  only  way  in  which  this  or  any 
new  business  ever  became  successfully  es- 
tablished. To  this  end,  it  is  essential  that 
we  give  the  whole,  blunders  and  all.  Some 
of  our  mistakes  and  blunders  are  chargeable 
upon  the  mis-statements  of  interested  dealers 
in  trees,  seed,  &c.,  and  some  to  our  own 
want  of  experience  and  due  consideration. 

My  first  movement  (1837)  was  wrong.  — 
Bought  a  lot  of  mulberry-seed  as  "  Genuine 
Chinese  Mulberry  Seed,"  which  proved  to 
be  an  inferior  variety  of  the  White  —  lost 
two  seasons  in  getting  started,  and  some 
patience  withal.  In  1^39,  planted  one  hun- 
dred dollars  worth  alpine  cuttings.  Ac-, 
cording  to  the  "  books,"  I  was  not  to  lose  one 
in  fifty — in  the  result,  did  not  get  one  in 
fifty  —  I  should  almost  as  soon  recommend 
the  propagation  of  oak  bushes  by  cuttings, 
as  the  alpine,  or  other  hardy  varieties  of  the 
mulberry.  Same  year,  planted  Canton  and 
multicaulis.  They  vegetated  very  well,  but 
made  a  small  growth.  I  had  been  taught  to 
believe,  that  the  mulberry-tree  would  flour- 
ish where  nothing  else  would  grow  —  quite  a 


mistake.  I  took  my  trees  up  too  ^arly,  and 
lost  many  the  ensuing  winter. 

Thus  far,  1  had  been  operating  upon  hired 
lands.  In  1840,  began  on  the  tarm  where  I 
now  live  —  lands  all  sadly  exhausted.  Not 
an  acre  on  the  farm  that  would  give  half  a 
ton  of  hay.  I  planted  two  acres,  chiefly 
with  multicaulis  and  Cantons,  by  laying  the 
trees  whole  length  in  the  furrow,  manuring 
them  with  a  cheap  compost,  made  principally 
of  peat  mud,  properly  prepared.  They  did 
well,  and  made  an  average  growth  of  three 
feet.  Let  them  stand  as  they  grew,  and 
they  all  wintered  safely.  In  1841,  planted 
three  acres  more,  in  like  manner  —  season 
dry,  average  growth  two  feet  —  left  all  out 
as  before. 

But  the  winter  of  1841  and  '42  was  very 
open  —  no  snow,  frequent  and  heavy  rains, 
with  constant  freezing  and  thawing.  My 
ground  is  a  plain,  very  level,  and  the  water 
stood  and  froze  in  many  places,  —  trees  not 
ridged  up  with  the  plough  in  summer  culti- 
vation, as  they  should  have  been, on  such 
land,  to  guard  against  this  danger.  The  re- 
sult was,  that  I  lost  the  whole  of  the  three- 
acre  lot,  and  at  least  three  fourths  of  the 
other. 

To  me,  this  was  a  sad  disappointment ; 
and,  for  a  few  days  in  March,  1842,  for  the 
Jirnt  and  the  last  time,  I  had  feelings  of  uncon- 
querable discouragement  creeping  through 
iny  frame.  True,  the  winter  had  been  pe- 
culiar—  nothing  like  it  for  twenty  years. 
But  just  such  winters  may  come  again.  In 
this  state,  my  first  movement  was,  to  des- 
patch some  twenty-five  to  thirty  letters  of 
inquiry  to  silk-growers  in  New  England. 
The  mails,  in  due  time,  brought  me  this  re- 
turn, that  the  injuries  of  the  winter,  severe 
as  it  was,  had  been  confined  to  trees  planted 
as  mine  were,  whole  and  horizontally,  on  fiat 
ground,  without  being  ridged  up,  and  those 
of  small  growth.  I  was  greatly  relieved  to 
learn,  that,  in  all  cases  where  they  had  been 
set  deep,  one  root  in  a  place,  on  dry,  sloping 
land,  (or  ridged,  if  flat,)  rich  enough  to 
make  good  extended  roots  the  first  season, 
they  had  gone  through  the  winter  safely, 
preeminently  bad  as  it  had  been. 

Feeling,  therefore,  that  I  then  knew  the 
worst  of  the  case,  (as  we  could  not  have  a 
more  unfavorable  winter,)  I  went  directly  to 
work,  with  augmented  confidence,  to  repair 
my  loss.  I  ploughed  up  all  my  lands,  saving 
every  live  tree  —  sent  thirty-five  to  forty 
miles  and  bought  others,  so  as  to  plant  seven 
to  eight  acres,  and  thus  began  the  silk  business 
anew  in  1842,  and  began  right. 

As  to  trees,  I  prefer  the  multicaulis,  the 
large-leaf  Canton,  and  the  Asiatic.  Managed 
as  indicated  in  the  above  details,  they  are 
essentially  safe  from  the  perils  of  winter  any 
where  between  Canada  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  If  not  thus  managed,  they  are  in 
danger  any  where  and  every  where,  where 
it  is  cold  enough  for  ice  to  form,  and  the 
ground  to  freeze.  It  is  not  the  degree  of 
cold  that  does  the  injury  in  this  and  similai 


LETTERS. 


57 


cases,  but  freezing  and  thawing.  Everybody 
knows  that  a  peach-tree  is  more  safe  on  the 
north  than  on  the  south  side  of  the  wall, 
and  for  the  reasons  here  stated.  I  would 
not,  therefore,  give  a  dollar  for  a  full  in- 
surance on  all  my  trees,  if  the  thermometer, 
in  December,  will  drop  down  to  twenty 
degrees  below  zero,  and  stay  there,  until  the 
last  of  March. 

As  to  the  feasibility  of  the  silk  business  in 
this  country,  I  have  no  doubt.  I  must  un- 
learn all  that  I  have  learned  upon  the  subject 
for  fifteen  years,  undo  all  that  I  have  done, 
and  unsay  all  that  I  have  said  —  unhinge 
and  upset  all  the  abiding  and  fixed  impres- 
sions upon  my  own  mind  before  I  can  begin 
to  doubt. 

DR.  A.  SPAULDING,  Zelionople,  Pa.  —  My 
first  feeding  was  in  1839,  on  a  small  scale, 
by  way  of  experiment  —  success  satisfactory. 

1840.  —  In  Newport,  Ohio,  made  three 
hundred  pounds  of  cocoons.  Fed  from  the 
white  Italian  tree,  by  cutting  off  the  entire 
limbs,  which,  I  think,  is  the  best  way,  as  the 
limbs  shoot  out  again  with  surprising  rapidi- 
ty. We  failed  in  reeling  our  silk  for  want 
of  experience  and  suitable  apparatus  ;  and, 
although  we  were  not  satisfied  with  our  suc- 
cess that  season,  it  was  because  our  expecta- 
tions were  raised  too  high  by  the  wonderful 
stories  in  "  Silk  Culturists,"  "  Silk  Farmers," 
"  Silk  Growers,"  &c.,  &c.,  but  can  now  see 
that  our  success  was  great,  and  should  have 
been  satisfactory.  We  fed  in  an  open  shed. 
Worms,  white  and  brown  —  mostly  white  — 
very  healthy.  Fed  early. 

1841. —  Had  charge  of  the  New  Lisbon 
Cocoonery,  Ohio.  Fed  about  1,000,000  of 
worms,  in  a  large,  close  room,  without  fire 
—  temperature  variable,  from  fifty  to  eighty 
degrees,  Fahrenheit —  sometimes  a  variation 
of  more  than  twenty  degrees  in  as  many 
hours,  and  yet  the  worms  grew  rapidly  until 
the  fourth  age,  when  they  appeared  to  be 
less  healthy.  Did  not  wind  well  at  the  com- 
mencement, but  when  about  half  had  wound 
up,  my  cocoonery  was  consumed  by  fire,  — 
loss,  $  1000,  —  since  which  time,  I  have  had 
no  means  to  prosecute  the  business.  I  have 
been  teaching  school  for  a  livelihood,  but 
have  been  a  close  observer  of  the  experi- 
ments of  others.  In  this  place,  the  morus 
multicaulis  "  madness  "  has  almost  destroyed 
the  silk  business,  and  now,  even  to  name  the 
hated  thing,  is  a  reproach  and  a  disgrace. 

In  1842,  some  half-dozen  or  more  fed 
worms  here,  but  failed,  from  their  t>wn  inju- 
dicious management.  They  fed,  mostly,  in 
close,  plastered  rooms,  and  closed  every  ave- 
nue to  fresh  air  ;  and  when  the  worms  were 
about  to  wind,  every  worm  that  could  be 
seen  raising  its  head,  was  picked  off  with 
the  hand,  and  removed  from  the  feeding  to 
the  winding  shelves,  and  sometimes  were 
thrown  a  distance  of  some  four  or  five  feet, 
as  a  boy  would  toss  a  ball.  Thus  they  failed, 
and  then  charged  their  failure  to  impractica- 
bility. 

But  1  am  fully  persuaded  that  the  silk 


business  is  practicable,  and  I  would  be  glad 
to  enter  into  it  with  some  one  who  has  the 
means,  and  would  enter  into  it  in  the  right 
way,  and  be  satisfied  with  a  reasonable 
profit.  We  have  a  silk-weaver  here',  who 
says  our  silk  is  better  than  silk  he  used  to 
weave  in  London,  where  he  wove  for  twenty 
years. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  answer  your  ques- 
tions in  the  Circular,  as  far  as  I  can,  and 
those  I  cannot  I  will  leave  a  blank. 

Ques.  1.  — Ans.  Three  years.  Satisfac- 
tory. 

Ques.  2. —  Ans.  Open  shed.  Atmospher- 
ic temperature. 

Ques.  3.  —  Ans.  Yes.  Result  success- 
ful. 

Ques.  4.  —  Ans.  Probably  the  pea-nut  is 
best. 

Ques.  5.  —  Ans.  Morus  Alba  —  cut  off 
the  limbs. 

Ques.  6.  —  Ans.  Yes.  Early  feeding  is 
best. 

Ques.  7.  —  Ans.  Answered  in  the  body 
of  my  communication. 

Ques.  8.  —  Ans.  No.  I  will  ask  our  man- 
ufacturer to  do  it. 

I  should  be  glad  to  meet  you  at  the  Con- 
vention, and  exhibit  a  model  of  my  silk- 
worm frame  and  hurdle,  if  I  could  ;  but 
misfortunes  have  pressed  hard  upon  me,  and 
I  am  not  able  to  meet  the  expense.  I  should 
be  glad  to  receive  a  copy  of  the  anticipated 
Report ;  and  if  any  one  at  the  Convention 
wishes  an  active  partner  in  the  silk  business, 
I  would  be  glad  that  he  write  me  on  the 
subject. 

JOSEPH  BELCHER,  &  SONS,  Richford,  Tio- 
ga  Co.,  JV.  Y. —  In  the  spring  of  1839,  we 
procured  three  thousand  multicaulis  mulber- 
ry-trees, from  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and 
planted  them  in  this  town,  from  which  we 
reared  a  few  worms  of  the  sulphur  kind,  and 
manufactured  the  silk  into  sewings,  that  sold 
well  in  market.  We  have  steadily  increased 
our  stock  of  trees,  and  of  silk.  Last  year, 
we  raised  about  one  thousand  pounds  of  co- 
coons. This  year,  owing  to  some  cause  un- 
known to  us,  we  have  not  made  quite  so 
much,  but  have  still  found  it  much  more 
profitable  than  other  branches  of  farming. 
Our  building  is  thirty-six  feet  by  fifty,  three 
stories  high.  We  have  only  occupied  the 
two  lower  stories.  We  are  now  using,  and 
are  much  pleased  with,  Morris's  feeding 
and  winding  frames,  particularly  the  latter. 
We  regulate  the  temperature  by  stoves  in 
the  rooms,  with  pipe  to  conduct  the  heat 
through  the  apartments.  We  have  not  fed 
in  open  tents.  * 

After  three  years  of  careful  experiment,  in 
the  same  room  and  with  the  same  care,  we 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  pea-nut 
worm  is  altogether  the  best,  and  have  changed 
our  entire  stock  for  that  variety. 

We  use  the  multicaulis  altogether,  and  till 

the  ground  as  we  would  for  corn  ;  then  plant 

in  drills,  by  laying  a  continuous  line  of  trees, 

root  and  body,  until  this  year;  and  this  year, 

H 


LETTERS. 


the  body  only,  which  was  severed  near  the 
ground  last  fall,  and  buried  in  the  open  field, 
by  placing  a  layer  of  trees,  and  then  a  slight 
layer  of  dirt,  and  so  on  until  the  heap  was 
raised  as  high  as  we  wished  ;  and  our  crop 
of  young  trees,  this  year,  is  as  good  as  when 
we  have  planted  root  and  body  both.  We 
find  our  account  in  cultivating  well  through 
the  season,  in  the  increased  amount  of  leaf 
and  growth  of  the  tree. 

\Ve  have  fed  worms  early  and  late,  and 
are  altogether  in  favor  of  early  feeding,  our 
early  crops  uniformly  doing  from  25  to  50  per 
cent,  better  than  the  late  ones.  There  are 
several  persons  in  this  county  that  have 
commenced  the  silk  culture  on  a  small  scale, 
and  have  had  uniform  success,  except  in  late 
feeding. 

Our  experience  is,  that  the  silk  culture  is 
much  the  most  profitable  of  any  branch  of 
husbandry  in  this  section  of  country  ;  and 
we  feel  confident  that  it  will,  ere  long, 
spread  through  the  Union,  and  become  sec- 
ond to  none  except  the  cotton-growing  in- 
terest, even  if  it  does  not  take  the  lead  of 
that  also. 

It  would  give  us  great  pleasure  to  attend 
your  Convention,  but  poverty  prevents,  and 
we  must  be  contented  with  this  method  of 
casting  our  mite  into  the  treasury  of  useful 
knowledge  and  experience,  on  this  truly  in- 
teresting subject. 

EPHRAIM  MONTAGU Y.,  Bdchertoicn,  Massa- 
chusetts. —  I  have  received  the  Circular  to 
silk-growers,  and  heartily  approve  of  the  pro- 
posed Convention.  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
meet  with  you.  I  feel  a  lively  interest  in  the 
silk  business,  and,  for  a  number  of  years  past, 
I  have  had  a  good  degree  of  confidence  that 
it  will  ultimately  succeed,  and  be  a  rich  and 
permanent  blessing  to  this  country.  I  have 
been  engaged  in  it,  more  or  less,  for  nine 
years  past.  I  commenced  on  a  small  scale, 
and,  as  my  trees  multiplied,  I  enlarged  my 
operations. 

In  the  spring  of  J840,  the  last  week  in 
May,  I  planted  3000  roots,  of  the  multicaulis 
and  Canton  varieties,  on  one  fourth  of  an 
acre  of  land  ;  and,  although  the  trees  were 
very  small  and  backward  the  fore  part  of  the 
summer,  still  I  was  able,  during  the  feeding 
season,  to  pick  from  them  upwards  of  1300 
pounds  of  leaves,  with  which  I  feed  40,000 
worms,  which  made  126  Ibs.  of  cocoons,  and 
tip  wards  of  ten  pounds  of  raw  silk,  worth 
$51  50.  Cost  of  producing  it  $36,  leaving 
more  than  $60  net  profit  to  the  acre.  With 
the  State  bounty,  I  realized  more  than  this. 
In  1841,  I  produced  in  all  over  600  pounds 
of  cocoons,  and  had  pretty  good  success,  ex- 
cept losing  some  bushels  of  cocoons  by  curing 
them  with  camphor,  the  quantity  used  being 
too  small.  In  1842,  I  produced  but  245  Ibs. 
of  cocoons,  and  reeled  13  Ibs.  of  silk,  al- 
though I  hatched  more  worms,  and  be- 
stowed upon  them  more  labor,  than  I  did  the 
year  previous  to  get  600  pounds  of  cocoons  ; 
but  the  late  frosts  in  the  spring  destroyed 


the  early  feed,  and  the  unusually  cold  nights 
and  heavy  rains  in  August  destroyed  our 
last  crop,  so  that  the  result  of  that  year's  ef- 
fort was,  on  the  whole,  rather  unprofitable. 
Still  I  was  not  discouraged,  although  sadly 
disappointed  ;  and  as  my  trees  were  a  part 
of  them  growing  on  my  neighbor's  land,  for 
which  I  had  been  paying  ten  to  fifteen,  and 
even  twenty,  dollars  an  acre  yearly  rent,  and 
as  he  wanted  them  removed,  in  the  spring 
of  1843  I  ploughed  up  about  half  of  them, 
and  sold  them  to  individuals  in  a  neighbor- 
ing county,  who  were  commencing  in  the 
business.  Of  course  I  was  cut  short  in  my 
supply  of  feed,  and  concluded  to  feed  a  less 
number  until  I  could  increase  my  supply  of 
leaves  again.  I  commenced  the  22d  of  June, 
hatched  about  4£  good  eggs  and  1£  poor  ones 
that  did  not  pay  their  keeping.  From  the 
four  and  a  half  ounces  I  had  about  250  Ibs. 
of  good  cocoons.  They  were  fed  mostly  on 
multicaulis  and  Canton  leaves.  I  had  to 
buy  about  1000  pounds  of  leaves.  I  found 
no  bad  effects  produced  by  changing  from 
one  kind  of  feed  to  another,  neither  could  1 
discover  any  difference  in  the  silk. 

I  think  I  derived  great  advantage,  this 
year,  by  adopting  the  open-feeding  system, 
so  far  as  I  could,  in  my  cocoonery,  which  is 
in  an  airy  place,  and  well  supplied  with 
large  doors  and  windows  on  every  side.  I 
opened  them  all,  and  kept  them  open  day  and 
night;  except  in  a  very  few  instances,  in  ex- 
treme weather,  or  high  winds,  they  were 
partly  closed.  I  used  no  artificial  heat,  but 
let  the  worms  take  the  weather  as  it  came, 
the  thermometer  varying  from  below  50°  to  , 
upwards  of  80°  ;  still  the  worms  were  very 
healthy,  and  wound  up  well  at  last.  We 
had  300  pounds  of  cocoons,  and  I  think  we 
shall  have  nearly  25  pounds  of  raw  silk,  be- 
sides saving  15  ounces  of  eggs. 

The  expense  of  producing  the  silk  this 
year  has  been  comparatively  small,  the  most 
of  it  being  done  in  my  own  family.  I  paid 
about  $13  for  leaves  and  hired  help.  I  fed 
but  one  crop  this  year,  and  I  think,  as  a  gen- 
eral thing,  early  feeding  is  to  be  preferred  \ 
although,  in  1840,  my  last  crop  was  the  best. 
And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  would  say,  that  in 
view  of  the  general  results  of  my  efforts  in  the 
business  for  several  years  past,  it  is  my  can- 
did opinion  that  the  silk  business,  if  wisely 
managed,  can  be  prosecuted  with  as  little 
risk,  and  as  great  and  I  think  greater  profit, 
than  the  raising  of  corn,  rye,  gutter  or  cheese, 
wool  or  flax,  or  any  of  the  common  produc- 
tions of  the  farm. 

CHARLES  B.  CRAFTS,  JVoodbury,  Conn. — 
1.  I  have  fed  in  a  small  way  for  three  years, 
and  my  success  not  very  good. 

2.  I  use  a  lartre  machine-shop.  It  is  well 
situated  for  a  free  circulation  of  the  air. 
Temperature  not  regulated. 

4.  Prefer  the  pea-nut. 

5.  Use  the  multicaulis. 

6.  Early  feeding  is  best. 

7.  I  attribute  my  own  want  of  success  in 


LETTERS. 


feeding  to  the  richness  of  the  soil  on  which 
my  trees  stand.  [More  probably  the  close 
chop.  I.  R,  B.] 

Questions  addressed  to  manufacturers,  I 
answer  thus  :  — 

1.  Two  years. 

2.  Sewings  and  twist. 

3.  My  operations  have  been  small.     I  am 
now  making  arrangements  to  manufacture 
one  thousand  pounds  a  year,  with  machinery 
of  my  own  invention. 

5.  Two  hands. 

6.  American  silk,  well  reeled,  is  best. 

MRS.  HARRIET  MC-LANAHAN,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.  — In  1841,  the  interest  manifested 
in  the  silk  cause  was  very  great ;  not  only 
in  raising  the  cocoons,  but  in  finding  a  mar- 
ket for  them  when  grown.  Seeing  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  public  filature,,  to  which  all  could 
resort,  and  having  the  knowledge,  (which  I 
had  obtained,  many  years  before,  from  Eu- 
ropeans,) 1  was  induced,  for  the  good  of  the 
cause,  (and  with  some  persuasion,)  to  step 
out  of  private  life  into  public,  and  in  July  I 
opened  my  present  establishment ;  since 
which  time  I  have  kept  three  and  four  reels 
(out  of  six)  constantly  running,  until  the  ex- 
piration of  the  past  year,  with  which  the 
bounty  act  on  silk- growing  and  reeling  ceased 
in  this  State  ;  and  I  regret  to  say  that  the 
non-renewal  of  the  act  seems,  as  far  as  I  can 
judge,  to  have  struck  a  chill  upon  the  silk 
culture  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have, 
however,  kept  my  filature  open,  "  hoping  still 
in  something  onward." 

In  answer  to  your  questions  on  growing 
silk,  I  would  say  :  — 

1st.  In  1824,  I  fed,  for  amusement,  25,000 
of  the  sulphur  variety  of  the  silk- worm,  with 
good  success.  I  do  not  recollect  a  sick  worm 
among  them. 

2d.  The  building  occupied  was  a  frame, 
rough-boarded,  to  keep  oft*  the  storm  ;  board- 
swinging  window-shutters,  that  were  occa- 
sionally closed  on  the  windward  sides.  Heat 
not  regulated.  Time  of  feeding,  May  and 
June. 

3d.  Have  never  fed  in  an  open  shed. 

4th.  I  greatly  prefer  the  pea-nut  variety, 
as  producing  most  silk ;  am  also  partial  to 
the  two-crop  white. 

5th.  In  the  above  crop,  I  used  the  white 
Italian  mulberry. 

6th.  I  think  early  feeding  more  congenial 
with  the  nature  of  the  worm  than  late.  Dame 
Nature  is  our  best  guide. 

7th.  I  believe  that  failures  often  arise  from 
endeavoring  to  raise  too  many  worms  in  the 
same  building;  and  also  from  not  giving  them 
proper  food  at  proper  times. 

8th.  I  have  never  tested  the  mulberry-leaf 
for  paper. 

9th.  Have  had  no  experience. 

10th.  As  you  invite  suggestions  on  the 
subject  generally,  you  will  excuse  me  if  I 
offer  one  on  a  practice,  which  strikes  me  as 
being  pernicious  to  the  well-being  and  final 
success  of  these  interesting  little  animals. 
I  refer  particularly  to  noises  of  any  kind 


in  the  cocoonery  ;  and  at  any  time,  but  more 
particularly  at  the  time  of  moulting.  The 
sound  of  a  hammer,  a  sudden  burst  of  laugh- 
ter, or  even  loud  talking,  disturbs  them. 
Their  food,  also,  is  often  throion  on  them,  in- 
stead of  being  laid  down  gently  by  them. 
Any  thing  which  causes  them  to  start,  and 
more  particularly  in  their  torpid  state,  must 
of  course  derange  the  order  and  process  of 
nature,  &c.,  &c.  The  minutiae  of  their  brief 
existence  cannot  be  entered  into  here.  I 
will  only  say,  that  I  learned  the  feeding  pro- 
cess from  Italians  ;  and  that  as  much  caution 
was  observed  in  entering  the  building,  and 
approaching  the  worms,  as  we  use  in  visiting 
the  cradle  of  a  sick  infant  at  the  crisis  of 
some  dangerous  disease. 

In  1824,  I  spun  on  a  flax  wheel,  from  the 
pierced  cocoons,  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make 
several  pairs  of  stockings,  gloves,  &c.  One 
pair  of  the  stockings  I  yet  have,  which,  at 
that  time,  created  quite  a  sensation.  I  have 
been  more  or  less  engaged  in  it  ever  since,  as 
time  or  circumstances  would  permit,  but  only 
for  amusement ;  never  as  a  business  till  the 
year  1841.  In  1840,  I  was  awarded  a  silver 
medal  by  the  Franklin  Institute  in  Philadel- 
phia, for  reeled  silk,  with  which  1  had  amused 
myself  in  my  private  room,  without  the  re- 
motest thought,  at  the  time,  that  it  would  ever 
meet  the  public  eye. 

My  manufacture  has  been  confined,  thus 
far,  to  sewings,  saddler's  floss,  stockings,  and 
broad  silks. 

In  the  past  two  years  and  two  months  1 
have  reeled  483  pounds  of  raw  silk,  made  336 
pounds  of  sewings,  &c.,  about  two  dozen 
pairs  of  stockings,  and  110  yards  of  broad 
silk,  both  plain  and  twilled,  for  dresses.  I 
have  clad  myself  in  a  suit  of  domestic  silk, 
from  head  to  foot  entire,  every  article  of 
which  has  been  reeled  in  my  filature.  I  also 
received  the  award  of  a  second  silver  medal 
from  the  Franklin  Institute,  at  their  last  ex- 
hibition, for  my  sewing-silk,  which,  together 
with  a  less  quantity  of  raw  silk,  I  furnished 
them,  amounting  to  94  pounds. 

As  to  capital  invested,  please  accept  the 
truth,  which  is  easier  told  than  a  fabrication. 
I  rented  the  building  I  now  occupy,  bor- 
rowed my  machinery,  which  was  sent  me 
free  of  cost,  and  commenced  business  without 
a  dollar.  When  the  cocoons  which  offered 
were  reeled,  I  took,  as  my  fee,  a  portion  of 
the  silk,  made  the  whole  up  into  sewings, 
&c.,  for  which  I  have  found  ready  sale,  and 
paid  over  to  the  owners  the  highest  market 
price  for  their  portion.  The  first  year  I  paid 
$5  50  per  pound  ;  last  year,  $5  00. 

I  employ  two  hands  to  each  reel,  one 
young  woman  and  one  child,  all  females; 
sometimes  supernumeraries  to  the  number 
of  ten  and  twelve. 

As  to  the  quality  of  American  raw  silk, 
compared  with  foreign,  I  have  little  experi- 
ence, except  with  my  own,  which  I  know 
has  continued  to  command  the  highest  market 
price,  and  generally,  indeed  I  may  say  al- 
ways, from  fifty  cents  to  a  dollar  more  per 
pound  than  the  foreign.  I  would  also  ob- 


LETTERS. 


serve,  that  foreign  manufacturers  here,  who 
have  worked  silk  reeled  in  my  filature,  have 
given  it  a  decided  preference.  A  sample  of 
reeled  silks  and  sewings,  which  I  sent  to  the 
National  Gallery  at  Washington  last  year, 
has  been  complimented  as  being  equal  to  any 
in  the  world.  While  on  the  subject  of  reel- 
ing, perhaps  I  will  be  excusable  for  men- 
tioning what  to  me  often  proves  a  source  of 
deep  regret.  1  mean  the  inexperience  of 
those,  in  different  sections  of  our  country, 
who  reel  their  own  silk,  without  knowing 
the  necessity  of  its  being  done  in  a  particular 
manner,  to  suit  the  manufacturer.  Lots  of 
silk  are  frequently  offered  for  sale,  which,  to 
look  at,  appear  perfectly  good ;  but,  upon  ex- 
amination, are  not  saleable  at  any  price, 
because  they  cannot  be  worked.  Hence 
another  cause  of  discouragement  to  the 
grower. 

In  regard  to  the  best  tree  for  feeding,  I 
prefer  the  white  Italian;  I  think  the  silk 
stronger,  and  susceptible  of  higher  lustre ; 
and  would  recommend  in  all  cases  of  multi- 
caulis  feeding,  where  practicable,  that  the 
white  Italian  should  be  substituted  from  the 
last  moulting  to  the  finishing.  The  other 
varieties  I  am  not  acquainted  with. 

In  the  Tariff,  the  Act  appears  ambiguous  : 
"  On  sewing-silk,  a  duty  of  two  dollars  per 
pound."  — u  On  raw  silk,  comprehending  all 
silks  in  the  gum,  fifty  cents  per  pound."  It 
is  currently  understood,  but  I  am  unable  to 
say  with  what  correctness,  that  sewings  are 
imported  in  the  gum  at  50  cents  per  pound. 
If  so,  the  duty  of  $2  50  per  pound  is  more  or 
less  defeated.  Foreign  sewings  include  gen- 
erally from  two  to  three  ounces  artificial 
weight  in  the  pound  of  thirteen  ounces,  or 
about  20  per  cent,  illegal  profit.  The  Amer- 
ican manufacturer,  even  if  so  disposed,  is  un- 
able to  compete  with  this  fraud,  on  account 
of  the  small  quantity  dyed  at  the  same  time. 
Foreign  sewings  are  made  from  second  arid 
third  quality  silk,  first  quality  being  manu- 
factured into  fine  fabrics.  American  sew- 
ings are  made  from  the  first  quality  of  raw 
fsilk,  and  are  admitted  to  be  much  stronger 
and  better. 

As  to  the  enterprise  being  feasible,  I  can 
see  nothing  to  prevent  it.  Our  climate  has 
been  sufficiently  tested  to  prove  that  it  can 
be  done.  That  the  climate  south  of  the  par- 
allel of  40  degrees  is  more  congenial  to  the 
worm,  we  may  admit,  having  little  need  of  arti- 
ficial heat ;  but  if  good  cocoons  can  be  grown 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
why  not  in  any  part  of  our  Union  ?  Our 
population  want  LEADING  on  by  State  boun- 
ties, and  a  protective  tariff  on  silk,  (that  can- 
not be  evaded,)  until,  by  their  experience, 
they  become  skilled  in  raising  the  worm ; 
and  my  humble  opinion  is,  that  a  crop  of  silk 
will  become  as  much  a  matter  of  course,  with 
farmers  generally,  as  is  their  present  crop  of 
wheat  or  corn. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  say,  that  having  ex- 
tended my  brief  epistle  to  almost  a  volume, 
it  can  scarcely  be  necessary  for  me  (if  even 
admissible  for  ladies)  to  make  my  courtesy 


at  your  Convention,  clad  in  my 
silk. 


domestic 


[The  Secretary  of  the  Institute  sent  a 
special  invitation  to  the  author  of  this  inter- 
esting document,  to  attend  the  Convention, 
clad  in  her  domestic  silk.  The  Convention 
were  pained  to  receive  a  note  from  her 
afflicted  husband,  stating  that  she  was  dan- 
gerously ill.  —  I.  R.  B.] 

ALEXANDER  SMITH,  Frcdonia,  Chatauque 
Co.,  JV.  Y.  —  I  have  been  engaged  for  the 
last  six  years  in  the  culture  and  manufacture 
of  silk.  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  success 
of  the  enterprise ;  and,  having  been  one  of 
the  first  to  engage  in  it  in  this  county,  have 
watched  its  progress  with  solicitude,  and  am 
much  gratified  to  see  it  steadily  advancing. 
There  have  been  about  13  or  14  hundred 
pounds  of  cocoons  raised  this^year  in  the  six 
towns  along  the  lake  shore,  which  is,  prob- 
ably, three  times  the  quantity  ever  raised  be- 
fore in  one  year.  Several  gentlemen  are 
preparing  to  feed  largely  next  year,  and  many 
others  are  making  preparations  to  begin  next 
spring.  From  my  own  experience,  I  am 
convinced  that  the  soil  and  climate,  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  county,  is  well  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  silk.  The  southern  and 
middle  parts  I  do  not  think  so  good,  owing 
to  their  elevation,  and  more  sudden  change* 
of  temperature.  I  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  silk  can  be  profitably  raised  in  any 
district  where  Indian  corn  is  cultivated  to 
advantage,  as  the  season  which  suits  one  is 
perfectly  adapted  to  the  other. 

The  worms  fed  in  this  vicinity  the  two 
years  preceding  this  were  very  sickly,  owing, 
I  believe,  principally  to  want  of  leaves,  and 
want  of  skill  in  those  who  fed.  This  year, 
they  have  been  remarkably  healthy,  with 
some  very  few  slight  exceptions.  The  co- 
coons raised  here  are  all  made  into  sewings ; 
none  have  ever  been  sold  out  of  the  county, 
to  my  knowledge.  I  have  manufactured, 
probably,  two  thirds  of  the  cocoons  raised  in 
the  county  for  the  last  four  years,  and  many 
from  Pennsylvania.  I  have  a  reel,  twisting- 
machine,  and  spooling-frame,  all  of  my  own 
invention,  and  all  work  admirably.  The 
reel  can  be  made  for  six  dollars, and,  for  sim- 
plicity, durability,  and  facility  of  reeling,  I 
think  has  not  been  exceeded. 

My  twisting  machine  may  be  made  to 
drive  any  number  of  spindles.  It  may  be 
turned  by  hand  or  by  water.  It  twists  a 
smooth,  even  thread,  is  very  simple  in  its 
structure,  and  is  not  liable  to  get  out  of 
repair. 

The  twist  may  be  regulated  so  as  to  twist 
hard  or  slack,  as  the  operator  pleases.  They 
can  be  built  with  twelve  spindles  for  $25. 
The  spooling-frame  is  equally  simple,  cheap, 
and  convenient.  I  pay  from  four  to  five 
dollars  per  bushel  for  cocoons,  according  to 
quality,  and  my  silk  sells  readily  for  four 
dollars  per  hundred  skeins.  There  is  another 
gentleman  in  this  county  who  has  a  machine 
of  3  spindles,  with  ring-fliers,  but  he  worki 


LETTERS. 


61 


only  his  own  cocoons.  Thus  I  have  given  a 
very  brief  statement  of  the  silk  culture  in 
this  county. 

The  amount  of  cocoons  above  stated  has 
been  raised  in  the  six  towns  along  the  lake 
shore. 

There  are,  probably,  two  or  three  hundred 
pounds  grown  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

L.  R.  HEWINS,  Foxborough,  Mass.  —  I  am 
very  much  gratified  to  know  that  you  are 
making  exertions  to  forward  the  silk  business 
in  the  United  States. 

I  have  raised  a  few  worms  each  year,  for 
four  years,  with  good  success  in  general. 
Fed  them  in  a  room  14  feet  square,  plastered. 
Did  not  regulate  the  temperature  in  any  way. 
I  have  not  fed  in  an  open  shed,  but  the  gen- 
eral opinion  here  is,  that  this  is  the  best. 
We  prefer  the  pea-nut  worm,  as  they  reel 
more  readily  than  any  other.  We  use  the 
Italian,  white  and  multicaulis,  and  let  them 
stand  through  the  winter  without  injury,  if 
planted  on  dry  land. 

We  have  tried  early  and  late  feeding,  and 
found  early  feeding  much  the  best,  as  the 
worms  do  better  and  make  much  heavier 
cocoons. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  to  procure 
eggs  from  healthy  worms,  and  then,  with  a 
little  experience,  we  may  secure  a  good  crop. 

We  have  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
about  five  years,  most  of  the  time  making 
sewings.  Have  made  some  warps  for  weav- 
ing bonnet  edgings. 

Have  not  much  capital  invested  for  ma- 
chinery, say,  $100  for  reeling  and  twisting, 
which,  by  the  way,  I  invented  and  got  up 
myself.  We  employ  no  hands  out  of  our 
own  family,  and  only  two  of  us  work  at  this 
business. 

Have  worked  some  imported  raw  silk, 
which  was  not  worth  so  much  by  25  per  cent. 
as  our  own,  owing  to  its  not  being  reeled 
well,  i.  e.  was  not  worth  so  much  by  <$1  per 
pound,  which  would  pay  for  the  reeling. 

I  know  of  no  difference  in  the  silk  made 
from  the  different  kinds  of  mulberry. 

And  in  conclusion,  we  have  planted  the 
trees,  fed  the  worms,  reeled  and  twisted  the 
silk,  and  finished  it  ready  for  the  market,  and 
know  of  no  possible  reason  why  the  business 
is  not  practicable  and  profitable  in  all  its 
parts. 

I  would  ask  for  information  respecting 
weighting  sewing-silk.  Does  any  one  know 
how  to  iceight  it,  as  the  imported  is  weighted  ? 

We  weight  ours,  but  presume  not  in  the 
right  way. 

I  send  you  a  specimen  of  sewing-silk, 
reeled  on  my  reel,  and  doubled  and  twisted 
on  my  twister,  which  does  the  doubling  and 
twisting  at  one  operation. 

[The  enclosed  silk  bears  testimony  of  the 
excellence  of  the  machinery,  and  the  skill  of 
the  operator.  I.  R.  B.] 

Z.    STORKS    &.    SON,    Mansfield    Centre, 
Conn.  — I  had  intended* to   meet  the    Silk 
Convention  in  New  York,  but  as  I  cannot 
6 


do  that,  I  am  desirous  to  add  my  mite  to  the 
mass  of  information  which  will  be  collected. 
I  have  been  for  forty  or  fifty  years  conver- 
sant with  the  growing  of  silk  in  this  town, 
though  not  personally  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness. I  consider  it  feasible  and  simple,  in 
the  whole  process,  and  that  a  little  practical 
knowledge  will  convince  any  one  of  this 
fact,  and  that  the  generality  of  publications 
on  the  subject  have  invested  it  with  too  much 
mystery. 

1  have  been  now  for  about  ten  years  en- 
gaged, in  a  moderate  way,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  sewing-silk  and  twist  —  have  about 
three  hundred  spindles  and  winders,  pro- 
pelled by  water-power,  and  employ  in  the 
mill  from  10  to  14  hands,  and  produce  from 
25  to  40  pounds  per  week  —  using  from  one 
to  two  thousand  pounds  of  raw  silk  yearly, 
adapting  it  to  the  demand.  The  capital 
necessary  for  this,  I  find  to  be  about  $8000. 

We  have  used  various  kinds  of  raw  silk, 
and  I  can  say,  without  hesitation,  that  the 
American,  properly  reeled,  is  equal  to  any : 
and  I  do  not  think  —  at  least,  I  could  never 
discover  — much  difference,  whether  made 
from  the  multicaulis,  alpine,  or  white  mul- 
berry. I  think  the  present  tariff  on  silk 
needs  some  alteration,  in  the  law  or  the 
construction,  to  prevent  the  importation  of 
thrown  silk  at  the  same  duty  as  raw  silk. 

As  to  the  ultimate  success  of  the  silk  busi- 
ness in  this  country,  both  in  growing  and 
manufacturing,  I  have  no  doubt  on  the  sub- 
ject, but  think  the  growing  of  silk  may  and 
will  yield  more  profit  than  the  present  pro- 
duction of  cotton. 

I  have  written  in  great  haste,  and  should 
be  glad  to  enter  more  at  large  on  this  im- 
portant subject,  had  I  time.  Shall  always 
be  pleased  to  hear  from  you,  and  shall  be 
ready  to  give  any  information  in  my  power. 

NATHANIEL  J.  CHURCH,  Minesink,  Or- 
ange Co.,  JV.  Y.  —  I  began  feeding  worms  in 
1839  —  took  a  lot  half  grown  to  begin  with, 
that  had  been  poorly  fed,  and  lost  the  most 
of  them. 

1840.  Hatched  and  fed  a  lot.    I  was  over- 
stocked —  leaves  came  short,  and  lost  three 
fourths  of  my  crop. 

1841.  Succeeded  in  bringing  my  crop  to 
maturity  —  only   a  few  diseased  —  had   38 
pounds  cocoons. 

1842.  Made  119  pounds,  and  in  1843,  103 
pounds.     Worms  healthy  and  cocoons. 

2.  I  fed  in  my  house  arid  barn,  and  the 
temperature  was  regulated  in  no   way,  ex- 
cept by  opening  the  doors  and  windows,  as 
the  case  seemed  to  require. 

3.  I  have  not  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent. 

4.  I  have  tried  several  kinds  of  silk- worm, 
and  give  a  preference  to  the  small  white  pea- 
nut, principally  because  I  have  observed  it 
to  wind   off  much   easier  than  any  of  the 
others. 

5.  I  have  about  two  acres  of  trees,  one  of 
white   and   one   of  multicaulis,   and   a  few 
hundred  alpines. 

6th  question  is  partially  answered  above. 


LETTERS. 


7.  The  cause  of  bad  success  in  feeding,  in  this 
neighborhood,  may  principally  be  traced  to  want 
of  cleanliness,  huddling  too  many  together,  and 
irregularity  in  feeding.  I  once  injured  my  own 
crop  by  suddenly  changing  from  the  multicaulis 
to  the  wild  mulberry-leaf,  when  they  had  fasted 
for  some  hours.  My  help  consists  principally  of 
small  boys  and  girls,  who  gather  leaves  and  feed 
the  worms  j  the  expense  is  next  to  nothing.  Jn 
manufacturing  the  cocoons  into  sewing-silk,  we 
have  not  hired  any  help.  1  made  my  own  reels  ; 
and,  will)  my  wife's  assistance,  we  have  reeled, 
spooled,  doubled  and  twisted,  —  skeined,  col- 
ored, finished,  and  sold,  the  past  season,  and 
received  to  the  amount  of  $113,50.  The  ex- 
pense of  our  reel  and  spools,  and  skeining,  I  sup- 
pose might  be  $3,  having  made  them  principally 
myself,  and  our  old  spinning-wheel  we  had  be- 
fore. I  find  more  difficulty  in  coloring  than  in 
any  thing  else,  having  all  to  learn  by  experience. 
Books  are  of  little  service  to  me,  as  their  pro- 
cess is  generally  on  a  large  scale,  and  the  arti- 
cles used  not  easily  understood.  However,  as  I 
am  not  easily  discouraged,  I  think  all  these  dif- 
ficulties will  be  at  last  overcome.  I  mean  to  at- 
tend the  Convention,  and  bring  some  silk  along ; 
not  because  1  expect  it  will  be  of  much  use  to 
others,  but  I  wish  to  learn.  I  am  fully  satisfied 
that  the  business  is  not  only  practicable,  but 
that  it  will  well  remunerate  and  justify  any  cap- 
ital that  may  be  judiciously  employed.  If  our 
county  agricultural  societies  would  appoint  spe- 
cial committees  in  each  county,  to  collect  in- 
formation and  lay  it  before  the  public,  offering  a 
small  premium,  many  would  be  induced  to 
make  experiments,  and  bring  in  the  result.  A 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  competition  would  soon 
follow,  and  much  good  evidently  be  the  conse- 
quence. 

W.  ADAM,  Northampton,  Mass.  • — On  behalf 
of  the  Northampton  Association  of  Education 
and  Industry,  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  the  Silk  Circular,  issued  by  the  officers  of  the 
American  Institute ;  and  in  reply  to  the  ques- 
tions annexed  to  it,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  ap- 
pend such  information  as  the  experience  of  the 
Association  supplies,  embracing  a  brief  state- 
ment of  the  results  of  silk-growing  during  the 
past  season. 

The  Association,  which  was  established  in 
1842,  on  the  principle  of  a  community  of  inter- 
ests among  the  members,  purchased  the  estate 
formerly  belonging  to  the  Northampton  Silk- 
Manufacturing  Company,  including  between 
twenty  and  thirty  acres  of  mulberry  trees,  the 
cultivation  of  which  had  been  long  neglected. 
In  the  spring  of  the  present  year,  the  Associa- 
tion built  a  cocoonery,  and  commenced  the  cul- 
ture of  five  acres  of  the  trees,  by  cropping-, 
ploughing,  and  hoeing,  and  the  foliage  produced 
was  in  consequence  very  greatly  increased,  and 
the  result  of  feeding  highly  satisfactory. 

The  building  erected  is  a  frame,  covered  and 
shingled,  without  any  floor.  The  sills  are  raised 
by  underpinning  the  posts ;  and,  with  a  view  to 
thorough  ventilation,  a  large  number  of  the 
boards  are  secured  in  such  a  manner  as  to  swing 
back  like  doors  ;  several  scuttles  in  the  roof 
also  assist  the  free  circulation  of  air.  The 
building  is  100  by  25  feet,  with  two  tiers  of 
frames  the  whole  length,  on  which  the  worms 
are  fed. 

The  following  is  a  brief  view  of  the  value  of 
the  capital  invested,  and  of  the  results  of  the 
present  season,  in  this  department  of  indus- 
try:  — 


Capital  Invested. 

Cost  of  Cocoonery, ;     .  $200,00 

5  acres  of  land  at  $50  per  acre,   .     .     .     260,00 

Capital  invested,  ^450,00 

Debits. 

To  8  ounces  of  seed,  hatched  for  feed- 
ing, at  $3  per  oz $24,00 

"  105  days'  labor  of  men  and  boys,  av- 
eraging 75  cents, 78,7.'» 

"  rent  of  cocoonery  at  10  per  cent,  on 

cost, 20,00 

"  rent  of  land,  at  six  per  cent,  on  val- 
uation,            21,00 

"  reeling  44  Ibs.  silk,  at  75  cts.  per  Ib.        32,00 

Debits,  #H5,75 

Credits. 

By  44  Ibs.  silk,  at  $5  per  Ib $220,00 

"  40  oz.  seed  eggs  at  $3  per  ounce,          120,00 
"  half  a  bushel  of  cocoons,  sold  for 

seed,  at  $7, 3,50 

"  4  bushels  of  perforated  cocoons,  at 

50  cents, 2,00 


Credits, 
Debits, 


345,50 
175,15 


JMet  profits,  at  37£  per  cent.  #1G«J,75 

Referring  to  your  Circular,  for  the  two  series 
of  questions  you  propose  on  the  subject  of  the 
growth  and  manufacture  of  silk,  1  now  subjoin 
answers,  numbered  in  conformity  with  your  que- 
ries :  — 

Growth  of  Silk. 

1.  We  have  fed  worms  two  seasons.     Last 
year  we  did  not  produce  so  much  silk  as  we  have 
this  year,  but  the  results  were  in  about  the  same 
proportion. 

2.  The    building    has  been    described  above. 
The  temperature  is  not  regulated  by  any  artifi- 
cial means  whatever. 

3.  We  made  an  experiment,  during  the  past 
season,  of  feeding  in   an  open    shed   or  tent. 
The  results  were  not  favorable  ;  but,  under  the 
actual  circumstances,  we  do  not  consider  the 
experiment  decisive  against  that  mode  of  feed- 
ing. 

4.  We  prefer  the  pea-nut  variety  of  silk-worm 
to  any  other. 

5.  We  feed  from  the  alpine  variety  of  mul- 
berry, and  we  plough  and  hoe  them. 

6.  Our  experience  is  in  favor  of  early  feeding. 

7.  We  are  not  acquainted  with  any  cases  of 
failure  in  feeding. 

8.  We  have  made  no  experiment  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  paper  from  the  mulberry-leaf,  either 
in  the  green  or  dry  state. 

9.  We  have  not  attempted  by  water-  or  dew- 
rotting,  to  convert  the  bark  of  the  mulberry- 
shoots  into  paper  or  silk  fabrics. 

Manufacture  of  Silk. 

1.  We  have  been  engaged  in  manufacturing 
silk  18  months. 

2.  We  manufacture  all  the  varieties  of  sew- 
ing-silk and  twist. 

3.  We  manufacture  at  the  rate  of  12  to  1500 
pounds  weight  annually. 

4.  The  amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  man- 
ufacture is  about  $3,500. 

5.  In  the  manufacture,  which  includes  dyeing, 
we   employ  three  men,  eight  girls,  and  three 
youths,  of  eighteen  years  and  under. 

6.  American  raw  silk,  properly  reeled,  is  de- 
cidedly superior  to  the  foreign  article  for  manu- 
factoring  purposes. 


LETTERS. 


7.  We  have  no  practical  knowledge  of  the 
comparative  quality  of  silk  made  from  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  trees  in   common  use  in   this 
country. 

8.  So  far  as  the  present  tariff'  has  been  tested, 
it  does  not  appear  to  have  operated  in  a  manner 
favorable  to  the  silk  manufacture.     What  modi- 
fications are  needed,  is  a  question  which  1  am 
not  prepared  to  answer.      Whether  any  protect- 
ive tariff  for  silk  is  needed,  or  is  just  and  prop- 
er,   is    another  question,  which   you    have  not 
asked,  and  which   I  do  not  answer.     But,  how- 
ever this  question  may  be  answered,  I  am  in- 
clined to  believe  that  the  Northampton  Associa- 
tion can  compete  successfully,  both  in  price  and 
quality,  with  the  best  foreign-manufactured  sew- 
ing-silk usually  imported. 

1).  1  have  no  doubt  that  both  the  growth  and 
manufacture  of  silk  are  destined  to  be  perma- 
nent and  extensive  branches  of  American  indus- 
try •,  but  in  these,  as  in  every  department  of  la- 
bor, prudence,  judgment,  economy,  and  order 
are  indispensable  to  success.  The  great  defect 
of  American  raw  silk  is,  that  it  is  badly  reeled, 
and  it  is,  in  consequence, 'unfit  to  be  employed 
for  the  production  of  a  good  manufactured  arti- 
cle. The  cause  of  the  bad  reeling  is  to  be  found 
in  the  simple  fact  that  it  is  reeled  in  the  families 
where  the  worms  are  fed,  and  the  cocoons  pro- 
duced. It  is  probable  .that  there  are  circum- 
stances which  will  always  prevent  silk  that  is 
reeled  in  families  from  being  well  reeled.  But, 
even  if,  in  every  individual  instance,  properly 
reeled,  the  silk  in  one  family  will  be  reeled 
with  a  different  degree  of  care,  and  of  a  differ- 
ent degree  of  fineness,  from  the  silk  of  most 
other  families  ;  and  when  the  manufacturer  pur- 
chases American  raw  silk  in  considerable  quan- 
tity for  manufacture,  he  finds  himself  in  posses- 
sion not  of  one  uniform  kind  and  quality  of  silk 
adapted  to  his  purpose,  but  of  numerous  varie- 
ties, from  very  coarse  to  very  fine,  from  very 
even  to  very  uneven,  each  variety  in  small 
quantity  —  thus  presenting  an  insuperable  ob- 
stacle to  the  production  of  a  good  manufactured 
article  from  such  stock.  The  remedy  of  the 
evil  is  as  simple  as  its  cause.  Raw  silk  must  be 
reeled  only  in  large  quantities,  of  a  uniform  qual- 
ity and  fineness,  in  order  to  be  employed  in 
manufactures.  This  is  equivalent  to  saying  that 
it  should  not  be  reeled  in  families,  where  only 
small  quantities  can  be  produced.  The  proper 
business  of  families,  and  the  only  business  adapt- 
ed to  them  in  the  silk  culture,  is  the  feeding  of 
the  worms  and  the  production  of  the  cocoons. 
This  is  all  that  is  done  by  private  families  in  It- 
aly and  India —  large  silk-growing  countries  — 
and  is  all  that  can  be  done  by  private  families  in 
America  with  advantage,  if  we  desire  to  make 
this  country  a  large  silk-gaming  and  silk-man- 
ufacturing country  ;  and,  until  the  necessity  of 
this  division  of  labor  is  perceived,  and  family- 
reeling  discontinued,  American  raw  silk  will 
never"  acquire  a  high  character  generally,  nor 
will  the  American  silk  manufacture  from  native 
produce  ever  rest  on  a  secure  foundation.  The 
Northampton  Association  has,  in  consequence, 
resolved  never  to  purchase  American  raw  silk, 
except  under  peculiar  circumstances,  but  only 
cocoons,  and  those  of  a  good  quality,  for  which 
they  will  always  be  ready  to  give  a  fair  and  rea- 
sonable price. 

I  have  now  only  to  add  that  a  large  proportion 
of  the  silk  grown  by  the  Northampton  Associa- 
tion, during  the  past  season,  and  carried  through 
every  process,  from  the  hatching  of  the  eggs  *o 
its  entire  completion  in  the  manufactured  state, 


will  be  presented  for  exhibition  at  the  Sixteenth 
Annual  Fair  of  the  American  Institute. 


RIXFORD  &  DIMOCK,  Mansfield  Centre,  Ct. 
—  We  send  you  the  following  statement :  — 

(1.)  We  commenced  manufacturing  silk  in 
1831),  and  have  been  engaged  in  it  ever  since, 
being  about  four  years. 

(2.)  We  have  manufactured  sewing-silk  and 
cord,  chiefly  sewings. 

(3.)  The  quantity  of  raw  material  used  by  us 
would  average  twenty-five  pounds  per  week,  and 
the  cost  would  average  $4,50  per  Ib. 

(4>  )  Amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  business 
would  not  exceed  four  thousand  dollars. 

(5:)  We  have  employed  about  9  hands,  to  turn 
out  this  amount  of  silk  per  week. 

((!.)  We  have  manufactured  about  all  kinds  of 
raw  silk,  and  we  find  that  American  silk,  reeled 
as  it  ought  to  be,  exceeds  any  other  kind  for 
strength  and  durability. 

(7.)  It  is  our  opinion  that  silk  made  from  the 
white  mulberry  exceeds  any  other  kind.  We 
have  manufactured  silk  made  from  the  alpine, 
and  from  the  multicaulis  ;  and,  if  we  could  get 
such  as  we  have  manufactured  from  the  alpine, 
we  would  be  satisfied. 

Our  views,  with  regard  to  the  silk  business  in 
this  country,  are,  most  clearly,  that  it  will  suc- 
ceed. The  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we,  as  a 
country,  shall  raise  our  own  silk,  and  manufac- 
ture it  j  and  ultimately  compete  with  foreign  na- 
tions. 

MOSES  R.  KING,  Newark,  N.  J.  —  From  an 
investigation  of  those  manufactories  similar  to 
my  own,  in  this  city,  it  is  believed  that  the 
amount  of  silk  consumed  annually  will  not  vary 
far  from  500  Ibs.  This  is  used  in  marking  coach 
lace,  fringe,  tassel,  and  gimps,  and  is  composed 
of  those  kinds  of  silk  known  as  tram  and  organ- 
zine.  In  these  manufactures  we  use  other  ma- 
terials besides  silk. 

My  opinion,,  as  regards  the  quality  of  Ameri- 
can silk,  is,  that,  if  well  reeled,  it  is  equal,  if  not 
superior,  to  the  foreign  article.  The  American 
sewings  we  consider  far  more  desirable  for  our 
business  than  the  imported.  As  a  consequence,, 
we  have,  for  the  last  two  years,  purchased  thatr 
when  we  could  find  it  in  the  market.  The  tram, 
and  organzine,  commonly  called  floss  silk,  we 
have  found  more  difficult  to  get,  of  such  quality 
as  to  meet  our  wants.  This  .has,  no  dpuht,  been 
caused  by  the  inexperience  of  those  engaged  in 
its  manufacture.  We  frequently  find  it  filled 
with  burrs,  and  its  color  often  presenting  differ- 
ent shades  of  whiteness.  This  appears  to  re- 
sult from  want  of  care,  or  a  want  of  the  proper 
knowledge  of  the  business,  and  of  course  is  a 
difficulty  which  time  will  overcome.  We  feeJ 
assured  of  this,  as  we  have  parchased  some  beau- 
tiful lots  of  American  floss,  which  have  fully  met 
our  desires. 

Permit  me  to  add  that  I  am  rejoiced  to  find  the 
subject  of  silk  culture  and  manufacture  receiv- 
ing increased  attention.  Since  its  first  introduc- 
tion into  our  country,  my  faith  in  its  ultimate 
success,  complete  and  entire,  has  not  wavered. 
I  early  became  satisfied  that  we  were  paying 
into  the  hands  of  foreigners  a  large  amount  of 
money  annually  which  could  and  ought  to  be 
paid  to  our  own  citizens.  So  great  has  been  my 
desire  to  encourage  it,  that  I  have  not  (infre- 
quently purchased  the  American  article  of  floss 
when  it  had  to  be  used  to  some  disadvantage.  I 
wish  you  great  success  in  your  attempt  to  excite 


64 


LETTERS. 


the  public  attention  to  this  important  and  highly 
interesting  subject. 

ISAAC  E.JONES,  Richmond,  Indiana  —  1  acci- 
dentally, a  few  days  since,  saw  one  of  your  Silk 
Circulars,  and  perused  it  with  much  interest, 
and  being  in  a  small  way  engaged  in  both  the 
growing  and  manufacturing  of  silk,  and  feeling 
much  anxiety  for  its  progress  and  encourage- 
ment in  the  United  States,!  felt  willing  to  cast  my 
mite  into  the  treasury.  I  should  not,  however, 
have  attempted  it  but  for  the  observations  in 
the  last  paragraph  of  your  Circular. 

Answers  on  growing  Silk. 

1 .  We  have  fed  more  or  less  three  years  past, 
and  feel  stimulated  to  persevere  in  the  business. 

2.  We  occupy  the  upper  story  of  our  factory  to 
feed  in,  and  use  Tillinghast's  suspended  frames 

3.  We  have  never  fed  in  an  open  shed  or  tent 

—  the  temperature  ought   to  be   uniform  —  70 
to  80. 

4.  We  prefer  the  mammoth-sulphur  variety, 
both  for  the  grower  and  manufacturer. 

5.  We  use  the  multicaulis  entirely,  and  plant 
in  large  rows  4  feet  apart,  cut  12  to   15  inches 
high.     Feed  branches. 

6.  We  have  tried  both,  and  believe  early  and 
midsummer  feeding  best. 

7.  We  think  bad  success  in  feeding  is  mostly 
owing  to  bad  stock  and  want  of  ventilation. 

8.  We  have  not,  but  intend  to  try  it  this  fall. 

9.  We  think  it  may  become  useful ;  from  a 
small  experiment  of  water-rotting,  the  fibres  are 
fine  and  strong. 

Answers  on  manufacturing. 

1.  We   have    been   manufacturing    8    or    10 
months. 

2.  We  make  at  present  satins,  ladies'   dress 
silks,  cravats,  scarfs,  &c.,  &c.,  of  different  colors. 

3.  We  are  not  yet  able  to  answer  this  question 
satisfactorily,  perhaps  75  to  100  pounds. 

4.  We  have,  including  water-power,  building, 
machinery,  &c.,  &c.,  about  $4000. 

5.  We  have,  as  occasion  requires,  from  5  to  8 
males,  females,  and  children. 

6.  We  are  of  the  opinion,  fully,  that  American 
raw  silk,  well  reeled,  is  equal  if  not  superior  to 
most  foreign  silk. 

7.  We  think  silk  made  from  the  multicaulis 
better  than  any  of  the  other  varieties. 

8.  We  think  the  present  tariff  should  be  in- 
creased, and  continue  a  few  years  at  least. 

9.  We  think,  if  properly  protected  by  govern- 
ment, the   silk   enterprise   is  entirely   feasible, 
strict  economy  being  observed. 

I  *  am  glad  to  find  so  warm  an  interest  now 
manifested  on  the  silk  subject.  I  am  very  de- 
sirous to  hear  something  about  French's  Knitting 
Loom.  I  have  seen  it  very  highly  spoken  of  in 
the  New  York  Tribune.  I  think  one  of  them 
would  be  a  useful  acquisition  to  our  silk  estab- 
lishment, if  it  merits  one  half  that  is  said  about 
it.  I  think  such  a  machine  would  be  useful  in 
working  up  the  more  inferior  quality  of  silk  as 
well  as  the  best.  The  people  here  are  turning 
their  attention  to  the  silk  subject  in  earnest.  I 
think  our  city  and  vicinity  have  raised  12  to 
1500  Ibs.  of  cocoons  this  season.  All  were  not 
successful,  owing  to  bad  stock,  but  we  are  pre- 
pared with  the  best  kinds  for  next  year.  I  should 
admire  to  be  with  you  in  Convention,  if  it  were 
possible. 

CAPT.  JOSEPH  CONANT,  Northampton,  Mass. 

—  Your  favor  is  before  me.    Pressing  avocations 


leave  me  time,  at  present,  only  to  answer  your 
queries  very  briefly. 

(1.)  Your  first  question  —  How  long  have  you 
been  acquainted  with  growing  silk  ?  I  answer, 
that  1  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Conn.,  and  have 
been  more  or  less  actively  engaged  in  the  bosi- 
ness  nearly  46  years. 

(2.)  As  to  buildings  :  I  have  fed  in  about  every- 
thing bearing  the  name,  —  barns,  corn-houses, 
and  other  open  buildings,  with  usual  good  suc- 
cess. But  I  have  no  records  and  can  give  no 
statistics. 

(3.)  Have  never  fed  in  a  shed  OT  tent,  so  called, 
but  have  done  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing, 
and,  beyond  all  doubt,  this  is  the  true  system. 
The  pure  air  of  heaven  is  indispensable,  and  the 
feeder  can  get  it  in  any  way  he  pleases,  but  get 
it  lie  must. 

(4.)  I  have  generally  used  the  large  sulphur 
worm,  but  recently  the  pea-nut,  which  1  prefer. 

(5.)  As  to  trees  :  1  have  generally  used  the 
white  mulberry  —  the  only  kind  known  in  Mans- 
field or  the  country,  during  the  years  in  which  1 
did  the  most  in  feeding. 

(6.)  Prei'er  early  feeding,  decidedly. 

(7.)  The  causes  of  bad  success  are  several  — 
bad  eggs,  or  good  eggs  badly  managed,  insuffi- 
cient or  unsuitable  food,  &c.  But  the  one  great 
cause  has  been  inadequate  ventilation. 

As  to  the  mulberry-leaf  for  paper,  or  the  bark 
for  purposes  specified  in  the  Circular,  I  have 
made  no  experiments. 

In  regard  to  manufacturing  silk,  I  would 
remark  : 

(1.)  I  have  been  acquainted  with  the  business 
as  carried  on  in  Mansfield,  in  a  domestic  way, 
from  a  child.  In  1829,  myself  and  another  man 
commenced  manufacturing  sewings  by  ma- 
chinery in  Mansfield,  which  was,  I  believe,  the 
first  attempt  in  this  country  in  that  way ;  and  I 
have  been  engaged  in  the  business  ever  since. 

(2.)  I  have  made  sewings,  twist,  some  ladies' 
dresses,  vestings,  and  handkerchiefs. 

(3.)  Have  used  from  one  to  four  thousand 
pounds  of  raw  silk  annually,  chiefly  for  sewings, 
and  at  a  cost  varying  from  $3  50  to  $6  00  per  Tb. 

(4.)  Have  now  from  $3000  to  $4000  invested 
in  buildings,  &.C.,  connected  with  the  business. 

(5.)  Employ  10  to  12  hands,  male  and  female, 
chiefly  females. 

(6.)  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  as  a  manu- 
facturer, that  American  silk,  properly  reeled,  is 
equal  to  any  in  the  known  world.  For  strength, 
and  lustre,  it  is  superior  to  any  foreign  silk  1 
have  ever  seen. 

(7.)  As  to  silk  made  from  the  white  mulberry, 
multicaulis,  Canton,  Asiatic,  and  Alpine,  I  know 
of  no  difference. 

(8.)  In  regard  to  the  present  tariff",  I  concur 
entirely  in  the  views  expressed  by  Mr.  Murray 
and  other  manufacturers,  now  before  the  Con- 
vention. 

(9.)  "  What  do  you  think  of  the  whole  silk 
business,  as  a  business  of  this  country  ?"  This 
question  I  cannot  at  present  answer  as  1  wish. 
I  will  however  say,  in  brief,  that  I  feel  entire 
confidence  in  the  opinion,  that  it  will  ultimately 
become  an  important  branch  of  business,  em- 
ploying an  amount  of  industry,  and  diffusing 
wealth  to  an  extent  scarcely  equalled  by  any 
other.  Had  I  time,  I  could  give  you  many  good 
and  sufficient  reasons  for  the  opinion  here  ex- 
pressed. 

JOHN  Fox,  Senior,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio.  —  I  will  answer  your  nine  interro- 
gatories as  concisely  as  possible. 


LETTERS. 


1.  I  have  been  wholly  in  the  manufacture  of 
silk  35  years  in  London  and  10  years  in  America. 
I  was  born  in  London ;  my  predecessors  were 
weavers  of  the  old  school.     I  was  brought  up  to 
the  business  young,  and  never  went  out  of  it. 
While  engaged  in  it  in  London,  I  superintended 
for  the  following  gentlemen  :  —  Messrs.  Hopkins 
&.  Cowper,  Friday  Street,  Cheapside, —  30  looms; 
Mr.  Win.  Prater,  Wood  Street,  Cheapside,—  100 
looms;  Mr.  Rugg,  Spitalfields,— 40 looms;  Mr. 
Frebout,  Finsbury,  — 50  looms;  besides  being, 
after   that,  in   business  for  myself,   in  Church 
Street,  Spitalfields,  and  Basinghall  Street,  City, 
five  years  with  twenty  looms.     During  the  period 
of  fifteen  years,  1  had  from  250  to  300  Ibs.  of 
silk,  of  every  grade  and  name,  pass  through  my 
hands  weekly. 

2.  There   is   no  article  of  silk  goods   that  I 
have  not  manufactured,  or  caused  to  be  done, 
during  the  above  forty-five  years. 

3.  During  the  last  sixteen  months,  280  Ibs. 
reeled  silk. 

4.  Including  factory  buildings,  machinery,  &c., 
&c.,  $5,400;  expended  the  last  16  months,  for 
cocoons,  reeled  silk,  weavers,  winders,  dyeing, 
and  girls  employed,  $11,371.      My  son  has  now 
25  hands  engaged  and  constantly  employed. 

5.  My  opinion  of  the  American   silk,  if  well 
prepared,  is  that  it  is  quite  equal  to  any  I  have 
seen  in  England,  from  France,  Italy,  China,  or 
Valencia,  and  in  some  qualities  superior. 

7.  I  would  give  the  preference  to  an  orchard 
of  white  Italian  varieties,  believing  them  to  pos- 
sess medicinal  as  well  as  nutritive  properties. 

8.  I  do  not  consider  the  tariff  as  answering 
the   end  for  which  it   was   intended,  and  very 
little  good  will  be  effected  by  it  unless  it  is  ad 
valorem  as  well  as  specific. 

9.  I  have  no  more  doubt  of  the  ultimate  suc- 
cess of  the  silk  business  in  this  country  than  I 
have  of  my  own  existence. 

Thus  far  I  have  answered  the  questions  pro- 
posed, as  far  as  my  knowledge  extends.  I  am 
nappy  to  say  the  Richmond  (Indiana)  Silk  Fac- 
tory is  in  the  hands  of  my  two  sons  on  their 
own  responsibility,  who  are  progressing  as  well 
as  can  be  expected. 

I  will  now  close  with  a  few  remarks  of  some 
importance.  It  is  evident,  from  the  greatly  in- 
creased quantity  of  cocoons  raised  this  year,  that 
something  must  be  done  to  provide  reeling 
establishments,  and  that  quickly ;  otherwise 
there  must  be  a  decline.  I  would  suggest  that 
filatures  be  established  in  several  parts  of  every 
silk-raising  State,  that  the  raisers  may  have  a 
market  at  a  convenient  distance  to  resort  to  with 
their  cocoons.  My  son  that  is  with  Mr.  Gill 
has  purchased  for  him  upwards  of  500  bushels 
of  this  year's  crop,  and  I  am  satisfied  not  half 
has  come  in  yet.  The  distance  they  have  come 
has  in  some  instances  much  injured  the  cocoons. 
The  expense  to  establish  these  filatures  would 
be  trifling,  compared  to  the  convenience,  safety, 
and  cheapness  of  transporting  the  silk.  I  hope 
some  of  my  highly  esteemed  friends  in  the  East 
will  give  this  subject  that  consideration  it  merits. 
But  the  most  effectual  means  for  working  up 
the  raw  material  is  to  establish  silk  factories. 
This  would  be  an  honor  to  the  Union,  and  evince 
the  patriotic  sentiments  of  its  citizens,  and 
within  five  years  bring  in  a  lucrative  return  for 
their  investments.  When  1  look  back  only  six 
or  seven  years,  there  was  not  the  semblance  of 
a  silk  factory  in  the  West.  Now  what  a  change  ! 
We  see  them  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio  —  at 
Richmond,  Ind. —  at  Nashville,  Term.  —  and  at 
Economy,  Penn.  —  and  elsewhere,  in  a  smaller 
6* 


way.  Dr.  White.  Mr.  Gill,  myself,  and  three 
sons,  were  the  only  individuals  engaged  in  the 
cause.  We  pioneered  our  way  through  evil 
report  and  through  good  report.  The  public 
looked  upon  us  either  as  maniacs  or  designing 
men.  The  latter  was  the  fact;  for  we  de- 
signed to  save  twenty  millions  per  annum  from 
being  foolishly  sent  away  from  these  shores,  and 
make  something  for  ourselves.  We  have  par- 
tially succeeded ;  and  all  that  is  wanting  to 
complete  our  designs  fully  is  men  of  the  same 
liberal  and  patriotic  principles  as  Mr.  G.  I  am 
aware  that  able  and  disinterested  superinten- 
dents are  scarce,  as  a  superintendent  must  not 
only  be  a  good  silk-weaver,  but  a  manufacturer, 
or  at  least  one  that  has  had  the  superintendence 
of  an  establishment  in  Europe ;  and  I  should 
find  no  difficulty  in  getting  such  men  provided 
there  was  a  probability  of  permanent  employ- 
ment. 

I  am  happy  to  say  there  is  every  prospect  of 
three  more  establishments  being  raised  next 
April  —  one  in  Cincinnati,  one  in  Kingscourt, 
Tenn.,  and  one  in  Indiana,  Pa.  1  hope  to  hear 
of  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  &c.,  doing  like- 
wise. Commence  economically ;  go  on  with 
spirit,  blended  with  prudence  and  perseverance, 
and  success  will  be  the  happy  result. 

MURRAY  &  RYLE,  Proprietors  of  the  Pater- 
son  Silk  Manufactory,  Paterson,  N.  J.  —  The 
Circular  of  the  American  Institute  has  received 
our  respectful  attention,  and  we  take  great 
pleasure  in  furnishing  replies  to  the  inquiries 
addressed  to  manufacturers  of  silk  :  viz. 

1.  Our  establishment  was  commenced  in  the 
summer  of  1840. 

2.  The  varieties  of  silk  we  manufacture  are 
chiefly  sewings  —  tram,  organzine,  twists,  of  va- 
rious descriptions,  and  in  fact  every  kind  of  silk 
thread.    We  have  lately  commenced  the  weaving 
of  cloth,  and  have  now  12  looms  in  operation. 
Specimens  of  these  articles  will  be  exhibited  at 
the  fair. 

3.  Our  consumption  of  raw  silk  is  at  present 
at  the  rate  of  8000  Ibs.  per  annum. 

4.  The  capital  employed  is  about  #20,000. 

5.  The  number  of  hands  employed  is  about 
50,  chiefly  women  and  children. 

6.  American  silk,  when  reeled  with  care,  pro- 
duces   a   stronger   thread    than  silk  of  foreign 
growth,  and  we  give  it  the  preference  in  every 
instance  when  offered  us  for  sale. 

7.  We  have  not  had  sufficient  experience  in 
the  qualities  of  American  silk  made  from  dif- 
ferent trees,  to  answer  this  question.     In  order 
to  arrive  at  any  correct  conclusion  on  the  sub- 
ject, it  would  be  necessary  for  the  grower  of 
each    lot  of  silk  to  specify  upon  what  kind  of 
mulberry  he  fed  his  worms. 

8.  In  answer  to  this  question,  we  would  state 
that  the  present  tariff  on  silks  does  not  answer 
the  objects  contemplated  in  making  it  — which 
we  presume  were,  encouragement  of  the  growth 
and   manufacture  of  silk,  as  well  as    revenue. 
The   section   of   the   tariff  on  raw  silk   reads 
thus  :  — 

'•'  On  raw  silk,  comprehending  all  silks  in  the 
gum,  whether  in  hanks,  reeled,  or  otherwise  — 
50  cents  per  pound  of  16  oz." 

Now,  raw  silk  is  known,  in  common  accepta- 
tion, as  the  silk  simply  reeled  from  the  cocoon, 
and  made  up  in  hanks  for  the  manufacturer. 
But,  under  the  clause  "  or  otherwise,"  silk  in 
the  gum,  although  manufactured  through  all  the 
incipient  stages,  previously  to  the  operation  of 
dyeing,  (in  which  the  natural  gum  is  for  the  first 


(JG 


LETTERS. 


time  extracted,)  is  admitted  at  the  same  duty 
of  50  cents  per  pound.  The  importer  of 
silk  in  this  stage  of  manufacture,  when  a 
purchaser  calls  for  a  particular  color,  has 
only  to  send  the  quantity  required  to  a  dyer, 
who  colors  and  prepares  it  to  order,  at  small 
expense,  and  returns  it  to  the  importer  in 
that  fully  finished  and  manufactured  state, 
which,  if  go  imported  in,  would  pay  a  duty 
of  $  2.50  per  pound ;  and  thus,  by  this  de- 
fect in  the  law,  it  is  evident  that  govern- 
ment loses  $2  per  pound  revenue,  and  our 
home  industry  is  deprived  of  the  manufac- 
ture, which  the  law  gives  to  the  pauper 
labor  of  Europe. 

During  the  last  session  of  Congress,  and 
prior  to  the  passing  of  the  present  act,  the 
bearing  and  probable  effects  of  the  section 
relative  to  the  duty  on  raw  silk,  as  now 
worded,  was  fully  and  strongly  represented 
by  ourselves  and  others,  manufacturers  and 
growers,  to  the  committee  on  manufactures, 
and  to  the  comptroller  of  the  United  States. 
These  representations  were  received  in  such 
a  way,  as  to  favor  the  expectation,  that  the 
section  would  be  so  modified,  as  to  secure 
all  the  objects  of  the  law ;  another  of  which 
was,  to  insure  to  the  grower  of  silk,  a  home 
market  for  the  produce  of  his  labor.  And 
we  would  here  ask,  where  is  the  silk-grower 
to  find  a  home  market,  if  not  from  the  home 
manufacturer  ?  And  how  is  the  manufac- 
turer to  succeed,  if  the  manufactured  article 
is  admitted  at  the  same  duty  as  the  raw  ma- 
terial ? 

The  act  was  passed  without  any  modifica- 
tion of  the  section,  thus  showing  that  foreign 
cunning  and  ingenuity  had  prevailed  over 
the  interests  of  both  silk-grower  and  manu- 
facturer—  for  to  no  other  influence  can  this 
extraordinary  proceeding  be  attributed. 

Inasmuch  as  the  silk-grower  will  be  bur- 
dened in  foreign  markets  with  heavy,  if  not 
entirely  prohibitory  duties  and  charges,  and 
can,  therefore,  expect  to  find  a  profitable 
market  only  at  home ;  and,  as  the  consump- 
tion and  demand  can  only  be  increased  by 
encouragement  to  the  manufacturer,  it  be- 
hoves them  both,  as  well  as  all  the  friends  of 
home,  trade,  to  use  every  exertion  and  influ- 
ence to  have  the  present  tariff  so  amended, 
as  to  impose  a  proper  duty  on  silk  manufac- 
tured in  any  way,  or  to  any  extent,  and  also 
a  proper  duty  upon  silk  simply  reeled  from 
the  cocoon  and  put  up  in  hanks. 

9th.  Our  experience  has  proved  to  us,  that 
it  only  requires  fostering  laws  from  govern- 
ment, largely  and  rapidly  to  increase  the 
manufacture,  and  to  render  the  growth  of 
silk  universal,  and  a  most  profitable  branch 
of  domestic  industry,  inasmuch  as  its  culti- 
vation scarcely  interferes  with  other  agricul- 
tural labors,  only  the  aged  and  the  young 
of  either  sex  being  required  to  superintend 
the  raising  and  feeding  of  this  invaluable 
insect.  We  believe  this  business  is  destined 
shortly  to  add  millions  upon  millions  to  our 
national  treasures.  The  enterprise  is  a 
mighty  one  in  prospect,  and  all  our  legislators 
should  look  to  its  interests. 


We  presume  the  foregoing  will  serve  as 
an  answer  to  the  Circular  of  the  American 
Institute. 

One,  if  not  both  of  us,  will  attend  the 
Convention,  to  give  any  further  information 
in  our  power ;  and  for  the  sake  of  eluci- 
dating our  remarks  on  this  unjust  law  of 
Congress,  will  exhibit  to  the  members  of  the 
Convention,  silk  in  the  gum,  raw,  and  in  its 
various  stages  of  manufacture,  before  going 
into  the  hands  of  the  dyer. 

Wiw.  A.  HAYNES,  Secretary  of  the  Nash- 
ville Silk  Manufacturing  Co.,  Nashville,  Tetm. 
—  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Tennessee 
Manufacturing  Silk  Company,  I  was  in- 
structed, by  the  Board  of  Directors,  to  make 
out,  and  forward  to  your  Convention,  a 
statement  of  the  progress  of  the  culture 
and  manufacture  of  silk  in  this  State. 

The  history  of  the  culture  of  silk  in  Tenn- 
essee, is  a  brief  one.  With  the  exception  of 
a  few  families,  no  attention  was  given  to 
feeding  silk-worms,  prior  to  the  years  1839 
and  '40  ;  since  that  time,  the  culture  of  silk 
has  rapidly  progressed. 

In  1840,  there  were  raised  in  Tennessee, 
1237  pounds  of  cocoons.  Evidence  of  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  culture  is  found  in  the  , 
fact,  that  4500  pounds  of  cocoons  have  been 
sold  in  this  city  during  the  present  year. 
Not  more  than  half  the  quantity  raised  in 
Middle  Tennessee  has  been  brought  to  this 
market.  From  the  reports  in  East  and  West 
Tennessee,  we  are  satisfied  that  the  produc- 
tion of  cocoons  in  this  State,  the  present 
year,  does  not  fall  short  of  20,000  or  25,000 
pounds. 

A.  D.  Carden,  Agent  for  the  Silk  Com- 
pany, has  raised  the  largest  crop  of  silk- 
worms in  the  State,  1430  pounds  at  three 
feedings,  in  an  open  house,  made  for  the 
purpose,  on  Mr.  John  W.  Gill's  system 
of  tent  and  cradle  feeding,  the  worms  all 
healthy. 

The  farmers  are  going  at  it  in  earnest  in 
this  State.  The  climate  and  soil  are  just 
what  the  silk-worm  wants.  Many  of  our 
farmers  believe  they  can  raise  cocoons  at 
one  dollar  per  bushel,  by  this  open  feeding 
with  cradles,  better  than  they  could  in  the 
old  way  at  three  dollars. 

The  Silk  Co.  has  engaged  as  superintend- 
ent, Mr.  Wm.  Turner,  an  experienced  silk- 
weaver  from  London.  He  has  two  looms  in 
operation,  one  weaving  satin,  (see  sample 
enclosed,)  from  silk  grown  in  this  city. 

[The  sample  enclosed  is  very  superior. 
It  cannot  be  excelled  in  any  part  of  the 
world.  I.  R.  B.] 

WM.  TURNER,  Superintendent  of  the  Silk 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Nashville,  Tenn.  —  I  will 
confine  my  remarks  to  Tennessee  silk,  not 
knowing  much  about  silk  grown  in  other 
parts  of  the  country. 

As  a  manufacturer,  therefore,  I  say,  un- 
hesitatingly, that  Tennessee  silk,  well  reeled, 
is  decidedly  superior,  both  for  strength  and 
lustre,  to  any  foreign  silk  I  have  ever  seen, 


LETTERS. 


and  is  worth  25  per  cent,  over  the  imported 
articles  of  raw  silk. 

As  to  the  quantity  now  grown  in  this 
region,  I  cannot  form  a  very  exact  opinion. 
I  will,  however,  say,  that  1  feel  entire  confi- 
dence in  the  opinion,  that  one  hundred  hands 
could  now  be  employed  in  its  manufacture, 
diffusing  wealth  to  the  State;  and  that,  ul- 
timately, no  other  business  will  equal  it. 

P.  S.  Fifty  yards  of  satin,  the  same  as 
the  enclosed,  was  sold  for  vesting,  by  my- 
self from  the  loom,  without  the  usual  dress- 
ing with  rollers,  (that  I  used  in  England,) 
at  §  3,00  per  yard.  This  was  a  fair  profit 
on  the  manufacturing,  —  and  was  consid- 
ered much  lower  than  the  imported  satin, 
by  those  who  bought  it. 

A.  D.  GARDEN,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

[As  a  further  confirmation  of  the  rapid 
progress  of  the  silk  culture  in  Tennessee, 
I  am  permitted  to  present  the  following  ex- 
tract from  a  business  letter  received  by  Mr. 
Gill,  while  in  New  York  attending  the  Con- 
vention, covering  a  bill  of  several  shipments 
of  cocoons,  amounting  to  410  bushels.  The 
letter  was  written  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Garden, 
referred  to  above,  as  Agent  of  the  Co.,  and 
as  having  himself  fed  1430  pounds  cocoons 
in  open  feeding  with  full  success.  I.  R.  B.J 

"  The  above  purchases  of  cocoons  exceed 
the  funds  placed  by  you  in  my  hands,  by 
$ ,  and  exceed  the  quantity  you  author- 
ized me  to  purchase.  There  are  many  more 
offering  in  this  market  for  sale ;  but  as  you 
inform  me  that  you  have  as  many  as  you 
can  reel  in  your  vicinity,  I  decline  further 
purchases.  I  hope  you  will  take  these.  I 
hope  also,  by  another  year,  we  shall  be  able 
to  do  better  in  this  State,  in  the  way  of 
reeling. 

"  You  will  see  at  the  fair  a  sample  of  satin 
wove  by  Mr.  Turner.  We  should  be  very 
much  pleased  to  have  you  represent  Ten- 
nessee, or  our  infant  Silk  Factory,  in  the 
Convention. 

"  As  you  will  see  eastern  manufacturers 
at  the  Convention,  perhaps  you  can  make 
arrangements  to  have  our  surplus  cocoons 
purchased  and  sent  East  —  any  thing  you 
can  do,  to  provide  a  market  for  our  cocoons, 
we  shall  be  thankful  for.  If  the  market 
fails,  the  growers  will  become  discouraged. 

"  There  are  three  or  four  times  as  many 
cocoons  raised  in  this  State  this  year  as  ever 
before,  and  it  is  your  system  of  shed  and 
cradle  feeding,  that  has  done  the  thing. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  if  the  market  can 
be  continued,  they  will  increase  in  quantity 
and  quality.  I  have  saved  over  100  ounces 
of  pea-nut  eggs.  From  this  stock  the  silk- 
growers  can  take  a  goof  start,  and  raise 
the  very  best  of  cocoons." 

[I  cut  the  following  scrap  from  the  news- 
paper, bearing  on  the  same  subject.  I.  R.  B.] 

Gov.  JONES,  of  Tennessee,  has  been  pre- 
sented with  a  full  suit  of  Domestic  Silk,  by 
the  silk-growers  of  that  State,  in  acknowl- 
ment  of  his  efficient  services  to  the  cause 


of  American   Industry  in  his  canvass  last 
summer.     He  responded  thus  :  — 

NASHVILLE,  Oct.  13,  1843. 

Gentlemen  :  —  I  receive,  with  a  very  grate- 
ful sense  of  the  value  of  the  compliment, 
the  present  of  a  rich  and  beautiful  suit  of  ' 
Domestic  Silk,  accompanied  by  your  note 
of  the  14th  inst.  If  any  thing  could  height- 
en the  estimation,  in  which  I  hold  this  kind 
and  undeserved  mark  of  regard  from  my 
personal  friends,  it  is  the  consideration  re- 
ferred to  in  your  note,  that  it  also  proceeds 
from  "  the  friends  and  advocates  of  the  cul- 
ture and  home  manufacture  of  silk,"  and, 
that  the  suit  itself,  is  the  produce  of  this 
truly  interesting  and  important  branch  of 
industry. 

I  fear,  gentlemen,  you  over-estimate  my 
services,  humble  and  inefficient  as  1  know 
them  to  be,  in  promoting  the  cause  of  do- 
mestic manufactures.  If  my  ability  were 
equal  to  the  heartfelt  interest  which,  in 
common  with  the  great  body  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  1  feel  in  this  great  cause,  I  could 
then  flatter  myself  that  your  compliment  was 
deserved :  in  the  absence  of  such  ability,  I 
beg  to  transfer  to  the  truly  distinguished 
and  experienced  champions  of  American  in 
dustry,  all  the  credit  which  your  kind  par- 
tiality would  award  to  my  poor  services. 

Suffer  me,  in  conclusion,  gentlemen,  to 
repeat  to  you,  and  through  you,  to  the 
friends  you  represent,  my  grateful  acknowl- 
edgments, with  assurances  of  the  warm  per- 
sonal esteem  of 

Your  obedient  friend, 

JAMES  C.  JONES. 

Messrs.  G.  W.  MARTIN  and  others  of  the 
Committee. 

JOHN  W.  GILL,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio. 

Questions  on  growing  Silk. 

Answer  to  Question  1.  I  have  fed  wormi 
for  five  years  past  —  results  various,  owing 
to  the  various  fixtures  used,  and  experiments 
tried,  attention  or  neglect  of  the  feeder.  / 
never  had  a  lot  of  worms  become  diseased,  or 
die,  if  from  a  healthy  stock  of  well-kept  eggs, 
without  being  able  to  trace  the  cause,  which 
was  ahcays  local,  and  easily  remedied. 

2.  I  used  both   one   and  two-story  build- 
ings,  built  of  brick  and  also  of  wood  —  have 
used  stoves  and  also  fire-places  with  chim- 
neys ;  prefer  fire-places,  on  account  of  their 
drawing   off  impure  air.     I    think    artificial 
heat  beneficial   in   cold   damp  weather,  es- 
pecially   when   worms    are    spinning.     My 
cocooneries  are  ventilated  by  openings,  with 
shutters  near  the  floor,  with  ventilators  from 
each  story  through  the  roof. 

3.  I  have   fed    in   open   sheds   and   tents 
with  complete  success.     1  fed  this  year,  four 
several  successive  crops,  and  gathered  the 
cocoons    from  the  same    cradles.      1st  crop 
fed  in  June,  last  crop  in  September,  both 
perfectly   healthy,   and   made    superior   co- 
coons.    Scarcely  a  dead  worm,  imperfect  or 
double  cocoon,  among  them. 

4.  The  Salmon  pea-nut  is  the  best,  white 


LETTERS. 


pea-nut  next ;  gold  pea-nut,  3d ,  Piedmont, 
4th;  Mammoth  varieties  are  also  good. 
Have  no  faith  in  any  two-crop  varieties 
whatever,  after  five  years'  experimenting 
with  all  kinds  recommended ;  but  would  ob- 
serve, that  those  who  wish  eggs  to  hatch, 
must  select  the  pure  white  cocoons  from 
the  first  lot  fed,  to  get  millers  to  lay  eggs 
for  the  2d  crop. 

5.  White    mulberry    and    multicaulis.     I 
cultivate  them  as  I  do  corn,  and  replant  the 
multicaulis  every  three  years. 

6.  Previous  years,  my  first  crops  of  worms, 
fed  early  in  the  season,  have  always  been 
the  best.     The  cause   of  failure  of  late-fed 
lots,  is   in  feeding   tough,  hard,  full-grown 
foliage,  in  which  there  is  but  little  silk-gum. 

In  consequence  of  the  severe  drought  this 
season,  my  trees  were  almost  defoliated  in 
August.  We  then  had  plentiful  rains.  The 
trees  threw  out  an  ample  supply  of  young 
leaves,  full  of  silk-gum,  and  my  last  lots  of 
worms,  fed  the  last  of  August  and  first  of 
September,  are  equal  to  any  I  have  ever 
raised  or  seen. 

7.  1st  cause  is,  eggs  saved  from  unhealthy 
stock.     2d   is,   eggs   being   improperly  pre- 
served.    3d.  Irregular  feeding  and  unwhole- 
some food.     4th.  Changing  the  worms  while 
moulting.     5th.  And   most   frequent  cause, 
want  of  pure  air,  and  neglect  to  remove  the 
excrements   immediately   from    the   worms. 
6th.  Letting  the  mice  eat  them  during  their 
last  age,  and   while  they  are  winding  their 
cocoons. 

Questions  on  manufacturing  Silk. 

1.  Between  five  and  six  years. 

2.  Since  we   commenced,  have  made  al- 
most every  variety  of  staple  silk  in  use,  as 
velvets,  satins,  thirty  varieties  of  vestings, 
twenty  of  dress  silks  for  ladies'  wear,  hat 
and  coat  plushes,  brocades,  lustrings,  levan- 
tine,    serges,    florentines,    flag-silks,    stage 
dresses,  umbrella  and  parasol  silks,  handker- 
chiefs, scarfs,  cravats,  aprons,  gloves,  socks, 
stockings,  shirts,  drawers,  sewings,  tassels, 
twist,  buttons,  &c.,  &c. 

3.  About  1000  bushels  cocoons  annually. 

4.  "       &  10,000. 

5.  "       from  forty  to  fifty  hands. 

6.  "       equal  to  the  best  I  ever  exam- 
ined. 

7.  The  quality  of  the  silk  is  owing  to  the 
kind  of  worm  that  spins  it.     The  quantity 
may  be  owing  to  the  kind  and  quality  of  fo- 
liage fed.     Worms  fed  on   the  native  tree, 
make  more  floss  and  less  silk  than  those  fed 
on  Italian  or  multicaulis,  but  the  silk,  what 
there  is  of  it,  is  as  good  as  from  the  same 
worm,  fed  on  the  other  varieties. 

8.  I   think,   to   protect   American    labor, 
there  should  be  a  duty  on  all  silks  imported 
by  weight,  and   also,   say  twenty  per  cent, 
duty  on  its  value  in  the  United  States,  both 
on  the  raw  and  manufactured  article.     The 
duty  by  weight,  on  the  raw  article,  protects 
the  producer,  and  an  ad  valorem  duty  pro- 
tects the  manufacturer.    This  would  prevent 
the  surplus  unsaleable  silks  of  Europe  from 
being  thrown  into  our  markets,  and  sold 


here  at  auction,  at  any  price,  having  the  ef- 
fect to  break  down  or  discourage  our  citi- 
zens from  commencing  in  the  business, 
draining  us  of  our  coin,  and  relieving  their 
own  market  of  goods,  the  sale  of  which 
would  conflict  with  the  regular  profit  on 
their  fashionable  and  saleable  goods.  This 
is  necessary  to  protect  this  new  branch  of 
American  Industry  from  being  thus  assas- 
sinated, while  it  is  now  in  its  infancy.  In  a 
few  years,  it  will  become  full  grown,  and 
will  supply  us  with  the  best  fabrics  at  the 
price  we  now  pay  for  the  cast-oft'  foreign 
stuffs. 

9.  Is  raising  sheep  in  Ohio,  hemp  in  Ken- 
tucky or  Missouri,  or  cotton  in  Mississippi, 
feasible  ?  If  so,  the  raising  of  silk  in  the 
greater  part  of  the  United  States  is  equally 
so.  Disseminate  correct  information,  estab- 
lish filatures  to  reel  the  silk,  and  protect  .us 
from  foreign  assassination  by  a  judicious 
tariff,  and  it  will,  in  a  few  years,  be  the  lead' 
ing  staple  of  American  production  and  man- 
ufacture, and  supply  us  the  means  honorably 
to  pay  the  immense  foreign  debt  we  now 
owe  (principally  for  silks)  without  repudi- 
ating it. 

My  factory  is  in  full  and  successful  opera- 
tion, producing  more  goods  than  at  any  time 
previous.  Our  operations,  as  per  factory 
books  and  account  stock  taken,  August  8th, 
for  the  past  sixteen  months,  is  as  follows,  in 
a  condensed  form,  viz :  — 

Cash  value  of  Factory  buildings,      $  1340 
"         "         Machinery,  engine, 
and  permanent  fixtures, 

1067  bushels  cocoons  purchased, 

280  pounds  reeled  silk      do., 

Contingent  expenses,  &c., 

Wages  paid  factory  hands,  &c., 

Dyeing,  dyes,  &c., 

Wages  paid  weavers, 

8000  bushels  coal,  at  five  cents, 


4060 
3600 
1400 

604 
3152 

607 
1610 

400 

$  16,773 

In  buildings,  $  1340 

In  machinery,  &c.,  4060 

Manufactured  3731  yards  velvets, 
vestings,  dress,  and  other  silks, 
&c.,  6324 

1006  cravats  and  handkerchiefs,  1396 

850  pairs  gloves  and  stockings,  875 

70  pairs  shirts  and  drawers,  325 

10  pounds  sewings,  100 

Contingent  credits,  1000 

Cocoons,  reeled,  and  other  pre- 
pared silk,  warps  in  looms,  and 
other  stock,  coal,  &c.,  per  in- 
voice, 3180 

$  18,600 

Since  August  wh,  we  have  purchased  over 
five  hundred  bushels  cocoons.  With  what 
we  have  gathered  and  now  have  winding, 
my  crop  will  exceed  one  hundred  bushels. 

My   first,    hatchings   finished  winding  1st 

July.     The  last  will  finish  by  1st  October, 

being  ten  or  twelve  successive  lots  between 

those  periods. 

1  have  been  successful  beyond  my  most 


PREMIUMS. 


sanguine  expectations,  in  feeding  in  the  shed, 
and  ventilating  cradles.  Have  gathered  four 
crops  from  each,  averaging  seven  bushels 
per  cradle,  or  near  two  bushels  at  each  gath- 
ering per  cradle.  The  two  first,  and  the  last 
crops  were  very  healthy,  and  made  superior 
cocoons,  of  large  salmon  and  pea-nut  varie- 
ties. The  third  lot  was  stinted  for  food, 
owing  to  the  long  drought  this  summer, 
which  obliged  us  to  resort  to  the  native  leaf 
for  about  ten  days.  They  were  hard  and 
dry,  and  injured  the  lot,  then  feeding,  very 
much. 

Those  fed  entirely  on  shelves  nearly  all 
died,  and  of  those  in  the  cradles  about  one 
half,  occasioned  by  starvation.  They  could 
not  eat  these  leaves.  From  middle  of  Au- 
gust up  to  date,  except  three  very  cold  rainy 
days,  the  weather  has  been  favorable,  with 
refreshing  showers  of  rain.  Foliage  came 
on  abundantly  and  our  worms  have  done 
well. 

I  think  our  cocoons  will  average  twenty 
ounces  silk  per  bushel.  The  cost  to  me  this 
year  for  producing  them  will  not  exceed  two 
dollars  per  bushel. 

I  am  completely  satisfied  that  my  system 
of  shed,  or  tent  and  cradle,  and  branch  feed- 
ing, as  a  system  for  general  adoption,  will 
produce  more  cocoons  than  any  other  method 
yet  introduced,  at  half  the  usual  expense, 
during  three  to  four  months  each  feeding 
season.  Cold  weather,  in  early  and  late 
feeding,  may  retard  the  worms  some  in  eat- 
ing, and  lengthen  their  time  some  little  in 
spinning ;  causing,  however,  no  other  injury ; 
and  for  warm,  sultry  weather,  nothing  can 
supersede  them.  (I  find  the  fans  over  the 
cradle  entirely  unnecessary.)  Many  others 
have  used  them,  and  advised  me  of  their 
complete  success. 

There  has  been  a  large  amount  of  cocoons 
raised  in  the  Ohio  valley  this  year,  far  more 
than  we  shall  be  able  to  manufacture.  I 
should  think,  from  my  correspondence,  at 
least  sufficient  to  "keep  two  hundred  reels  in 
constant  operation.  It  is  of  the  greatest  im- 


portance that  filatures  should  be  started  in 
various  parts  of  the  country,  to  take  in  the 
small  lots  of  cocoons  and  reel  them.  From 
neglect  in  reeling,  I  think  at  least  one  third 
of  all  previous  silk  crops  have  been  lost  to 
the  producer.  The  Convention,  and  friends 
of  silk  culture,  should  take  this  part  of  the 
subject  under  their  serious  consideration ; 
and,  by  getting  the  State  legislatures  to  give 
liberal  bounties  for  reeling  silk,  and  the  Con- 
vention giving  premiums  for  the  best  reeled 
silk,  they  would  soon  cause  filatures  to  be 
established  and  get  the  grower  to  reeling.  1 
do  not  see  why  more  filatures  have  not  yet 
been,  established.  The  cost  to  run,  say  ten 
or  twenty  reels,  would  be  small,  not  exceed- 
ing $  300  to  $  500,  and  the  silk  could  be  sold 
as  soon  as  sent  to  market.  The  art  of  reel- 
ing is  very  simple,  and  easily  learned.  We 
have  learned,  probably,  fifty  girls  in  our  es- 
tablishment, any  of  whom  could  reel  two 
and  a  half  to  three  pounds  of  fine  even  silk, 
of  six  to  eight  fibres,  per  week,  worth  five 
dollars  per  pound.  They  become  expert  in 
a  few  weeks.  Then  why  is  it,  that,  after  a 
good  lot  of  cocoons  has  been  raised,  they  are 
suffered  to  get  old  —  mice  and  moth  eaten, 
and  finally  lost,  for  want  of  simply  reeling 
them. 

Another  operation  of  importance  is  spin- 
ning up  the  cut-out  and  imperfect  cocoons, 
floss,  and  reeler's  waste.  I  have  a  number 
of  persons  employed  spinning  it  at  their 
homes,  on  the  common  spinning-wheel,  and 
it  makes  a  valuable  thread  for  shirts,  stock- 
ings, &c.,  and  after  paying  well  for  all  labor 
bestowed,  nets  something  considerable  for 
the  raw  material. 

I  am  pleased  with  the  brightening  pros- 
pect of  the  silk  culture  and  manufacture. 
All  elementary  questions  are  now  settled  by 
carefully  conducted  experiments:  and  the 
whole  country  has  nothing  to  do  but  to 
go  forward,  with  a  steady  and  careful  ac- 
tivity, in  this  new  and  promising  form  of 
home  industry,  —  growing  and  manufactur- 
ing silk. 


PREMIUMS, 

ON   SILK,   RAW   AND  MANUFACTURED, 

Awarded  at  tfo  Sixteenth  Annual  Fair  of  the  American  Institute,  New  York. 


W.  J.  Cantelo,  Weehawken,  N.  J.,  for  the  best  specimens  of  Cocoons   and 

Raw  Silk, Gold  Medal. 

Albert  P.  Heart,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  for  2d  best  Cocoons, Diploma. 

Lttcius  Carey,  Marian,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  the  2d  best  Raw  Silk, Silver  Medal. 


70  NOTICES. 

Northampton  Association  of  Education  and  Industry,  Northampton,  Mass.,  for 

specimens  of  Raw  Silk, Diploma. 

Luke  A.  White,  17  Whitehall  St.,  N.  Y.,  for  a  specimen  of  Raw  Silk, Diploma. 

F.  Trowbridge,  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  for  a  specimen  of  Raw  Silk, Diploma. 

Ephraini  Montague,  Bethlehem,  Mass.,  for  a  specimen  of  Raw  Silk, Diploma. 

W.  J.  Cantelo,  Weehawken,  N.  J.,  for  Cantelo's  Winding  Rack  for  Cocoons,. Diploma. 

Win.  lltnjilen,  Jith  Avenue,  N.  Y.,  for  specimens  of  Silk  Dyeing, Diploma. 

New  England  Silk  Company,  Dedham,  Mass.,  for  the  best  specimen  of  black 

and  colored  Sewing  Silk, Stiver  Medal. 

thampton  Asseciati&H  of  Education  find  Industry,  Northampton,  Mass.,  for 

the  £d  best  specimen  of  Sewing   Silk,. Diploma. 

Haskell  I.  Hayden,  Windsor,  Conn.,  for  superior  colored  Spool  Sewing  $\\\i,.  Diploma. 

(A   Gold  Medal  having  been  previously  awarded  to  the  same.) 
John  W.  Gill,  Mount  Pleasant,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  for  the  greatest  variety  of 

manufactured  Silk  Goods, Gold  Medal. 

Timothy  Smith,  Amherst,  Mass.,  for  a  piece   of  plain  Drab  Silk, Silver  Medal. 

Murray  <^  Rij/e,  Paterson,  N    J.,  for  Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Cravats,  and 

twilled  Silk  Handkerchiefs, Gold  Medal. 

John  Denmead,  137  William   St.,   N.  Y.,  for  Silk  Gimps,    Wire,  and  Coat 

Bindings, Silver  Medal. 

Miss  Mary  Beach,  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  a  pair  of  White  Silk  Hose, Diploma. 

The  Examining  Committee,  among  other  remarks,  say  : 

u  It  is  highly  gratifying  to  observe  a  decided  improvement  in  the  reeling  of  raw  silks,  as 
tending  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  manufacture  of  fine  goods,"  &c. 
There  are  many  excellent  samples  of  sewings. 

The  piece   of  plain  drab,  by  Mr.   T.  Smith,  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  is  worthy  of  special 
notice  for  its  evenness  of  texture,  color,  and  finish,  and  is  the  best  piece  of  silk  in  the  Fair. 

G.  M.  HAY  WOOD,  > 

H.  BYRNES,  >    Committee. 

EDWARD  F.  WOODARD,S 


Con- 


NOTICES. 

In  reference  to  future  operations,  the  Trustees  of  the  Institute  would  give  the  following 

Notices. 

REPOSITORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE, 
NEW  YORK,  NOVEMBER  3o,  1843. 

The  trustees  of  the  American  Institute,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the 
vention  in  regard  to  a  Silk  Manual,  as  given  on  page  17  of  this  Report,  would  inform  the 
public  that  they  fully  appreciate  the  importance  of  th'is  measure,  and  have  engaged  I.  R. 
Barbour,  Esq.,  of  Oxford,  Mass.,  to  prepare  such  a  work.  It  is  designed  that  it  be  plain, 
concise,  elementary,  and  strictly  American  in  its  character ;  and  not  so  large  as  to  exceed 
25  to  374  cents  in  price.  Mr.  B.  hopes  to  be  able  to  get  out  the  work  in  a  few  months. 

We  also  give  notice  that  a  Medal  of  the  Institute  will  be  given,  at  the  next  Annual  Fair 
of  the  Institute,  for  the  best  Experiment  in  making  paper  from  the  leaf  of  the  Mulberry- 
Tree.  The  application  must  be  accompanied  with  a  sample  of  the  paper  made,  together 
with  a  full  written  statement  of  the  quantity  made,  of  the  kind  and  quantity  of  leaves 
used,  and  whether  used  green  or  dry,  the  processes,  and  all  the  materials  employed  in 
manufacturing,  and  also  the  value  of  such  stock,  compared  with  other  kinds  of  stock  for 
paper. 

We  also  give  notice,  that  a  Medal  of  the  Institute  will  be  given  at  the  same  time,  for 
the  best  Experiment  in  separating  the  inner  bark  of  the  mulberry-shoot  from  the  outer 
bark  and  wood ;  either  by  dew,  or  water-rotting  ;  or  by  any  othCT  process,  by  which  it  may 
be  obtained  in  a  suitable  state  for  paper,  or  coarse  silk  goods,  or  any  other  valuable  use. 
The  applications  must  be  accompanied  with  a  sample  of  the  bark  thus  produced,  together 
with  a  written  statement  of  the  quantity  thus  prepared,  the  kind  and  age  of  the  shoots 
used  ;  and  all  the  materials  and  processes  employed  in  the  business. 

We  also  give  notice  that  another  Silk  Convention  will  be  called  during  the  next  Fair. 
The  Trustees,  the  Managers,  and  all  the  members  of  the  Institute,  as  well  as  the  intelli- 
gent friends  of  home  industry  generally,  have  been  exceedingly  gratified  with  the  spirit  and 
the  proceedings,  and  all  the  results,  of  the  Convention  just  closed.  We  believe  this  mea- 


REMARKS.  71 

sure  has  already  exerted,  and,  by  the  publication  of  this  Report,  will  continue  to  exert,  a 
powerful  and  healthful  influence  in  behalf  of  this  great  business.  The  facts  imbodied  in 
this  Report,  in  our  judgment,  are  sufficient  to  settle  the  whole  silk  question  forever,  as  a 
business  suited  to  be  a  permanent  branch  of  American  labor.  We  regard  it  as  so  settled, 
and,  in  all  our  future  efforts  in  respect  to  this  subject,  shall  treat  this  point  as  one  already 
disposed  of — needing  no  further  proof,  and  admitting  no  further  doubt. 

Another  remark.  It  is  intended  to  make  the  Convention,  now  so  happily  closed,  the 
beginning  of  a  series  of  Annual  Conventions,  to  be  continued  as  long  as  the  interests  ot  the 
silk  business  may  seem  to  demand ;  and  to  make  this  Report  the  first  of  a  series  of  Annual 
Reports  on  this  subject,  that  shall  form  in  the  end  a  vast  Repository  of  Facts  and  Instruc- 
tion, for  reference  and  use  in  all  future  times ;  Reports  that  will  be  extensively  diffused, 
and  carefully  preserved  ;  so  that  when  this  business  comes  to  stand  before  the  nation, 
and  before  the  world,  as  second  to  no  other  on  the  Western  Continent,  our  children  and 
children's  children  may  here  find  all  the  recorded  evidences  of  our  struggles  and  our 
triumphs. 

We  wish,  therefore,  now  to  shape  our  measures  in  reference  to  this  great  object.  We 
think  it  will  not  be  important  to  publish  another  volume  of  Letters,  in  extenso,  like  the 
present.  This  will  be  sufficient  for  such  purposes.  It  is,  therefore,  our  purpose  now  to 
commence  collecting  facts  on  the  silk  business  in  such  a  form  that  they  can  be  imbodied  in 
Statistical  Tables.  This  year  we  have  been  happy  to  receive  from  one  to  two  hundred 
letters,  and  yet  not  one  in  twenty  of  those  engaged  in  the  business  has  written  to  us. 
.Next  year,  returns,  we  trust,  will  come  in  by  thousands,  and  we  wish  to  have  them  come 
in  the  form  as  above  indicated.  To  secure  this  object,  we  subjoin  two  blank,  schedules,  one 
for  Silk  Growers,  and  the  other  for  Silk  Manufacturers,  which  they  will  be  able  easily  to 
understand  and  fill  up  with  figures. 

In  addition  to  filling  the  following  blanks,  we  would  invite  each  correspondent  to  offer 
any  remark  or  suggestion,  or  state  any  discovery,  or  improvement,  lie  may  have  made,  in 
any  part  of  the  business,-  or  any  thing  that  will  be  of  special  interest  to  growers,  or  manu- 
facturers, and  all  such  statements  will  be  preserved  in  the  Report. 

Another  remark.  We  are  very  happy  to  see  the  public  press,  at  the  present  time,  ready 
to  publish  on  silk.  We  trust  they  will  extract  freely  from  this  Report;  and  a  copy  of  it 
will  be  sent  to  any  Editor,  in  any  part  of  the  country,  who  shall  signify  his  wish  to  receive 
one  by  sending  a  number  of  his  paper  to  the  publisher  of  the  Report.  We  wish  these  No- 
tices may  be  published  entire,  and  that  Silk  Growers  and  Manufacturers  will  preserve  them,, 
especially  the  Tables,  for  future  use. 

We  also  trust  that  county,  or  other  local  Silk  Conventions  will  be  held,  next  September,, 
throughout  the  whole  country,  and  that  returns  will  be  obtained  and  forwarded  from  every 
grower  and  manufacturer,  whether  his  operations  are  large  or  small.  We  will  send  a  copy 
of  the  Report,  as  we  do  this  year,  to  every  person  whose  name  and  labors  shall  help  to  fill 
up  our  proposed  Statistical  Tables. 

In  conclusion,  we  take  the  liberty  to  say,  that  the  Trustees  and  Managers  of  the  Institute 
have  no  pecuniary  interest  whatever  in  the  silk  business,  or  in  any  part  of  it ;  that,  in  all' 
these  labors  to  promote  that  business,  we  are  only  carrying  out  the  designs  of  our  Associa- 
tion ;  that  these  designs  are  wholly  benevolent  and  patriotic,  having  reference  to  all  the- 
great  interests  of  our  great  country  ;  that  our  only  income  is  derived  from  the  receipts  of 
the  Fair,  and  the  voluntary  offerings  of  a  few  public-spirited  men  connected  with  the  In- 
stitute, and  is  all  expended  for  public  objects.  We  trust,  therefore,  that  these  statistical 
facts  may  be  collected,  and  forwarded  to  T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Insti- 
tute, free  of  expense. 

President, 
JAMES  TALLMADGE, 

Vice- Presidents, 
ADONIRAM  CHANDLER, 
WILLIAM  INGLIS, 
SHEPHERD  KNAPP. 

Recording  Secretary, 
GURDON  J.  LEEDS. 
Correspondin  <r  Secretary. 
T.  B.  WAKEMAN. 

Treasurer. 
ED.  T.  BACKHOUSE. 


SCHEDULE. 


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SCHEDULE. 


73 


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SILK  MANUFACTURERS 
PRIOR  TO  1844. 

NAMES  AND  P.  O.  ADDRESS. 

7 

J 

74 


APPENDIX. 


To  this  Edition,  we  append  the  following  Letters:  — 


OXFORD,  Feb.  14,  1844. 

T.  B.  Wakeman,  Esq., 

Secretary  of  A.  Institute,  N.  York. 

My  dear  Sir :  —  I  have  just  returned  from 
a  journey  as  far  West  as  Ohio,  undertaken 
for  purposes  connected  with  the  silk  business. 
I  went  out  in  company  with  a  gentleman 
from  Pittsburg,  who  is  going  fully  into  the 
business,  and  who  had  spent  several  weeks 
in  New  England,  visiting  our  establishments, 
and  collecting  information  in  regard  to  grow- 
ing and  manufacturing  silk.  1  spent  a  week 
with  him  in  these  investigations,  before  leav- 
ing for  the  West.  The  deep  interest  which 
you,  and  the  Institute  with  which  you  are 
connected,  have  taken  in  the  silk  cause,  must 
constitute  my  apology  for  laying  before  you 
some  of  the  results  of  these  our  joint  inquiries. 

There  has  been  a  large  increase  in  the 
manufacture  of  silk  in  New  England,  within 
the  last  one  or  two  years.  Several  new  es- 
tablishments have  been  started  in  that  time, 
and  old  ones,  that  were  prostrated  by  the  mul- 
berry speculation  of  1839,  have  been  resusci- 
tated, and  are  now  going  on  prosperously. 
These  establishments  are  employed  chiefly 
in  making  sewings  and  twist,  and  severally 
consume  from  20  to  200  pounds  raw  silk 
weekly  ;  amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  I 
should  think,  to  twice  or  three  times  the 
quantity  worked  up  one  year  ago.  We  found 
one  new  establishment  just  going  into  ope- 
ration, at  Mansfield,  Conn.,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  cords,  gimps,  and  other  trimmings. 
The  building  is  over  100  feet  long,  three 
stories  high,  and  designed  for  a  large  busi- 
ness. Messrs.  Dale  and  Denrnead  are  the 
owners.  All  our  New  England  factories 
purchase  all  the  American  raw  silk  they  can 
get  properly  reeled,  and  pay  higher  for  it 
than  for  the  foreign  article,  and  yet  their 
chief  dependence  is  upon  foreign  stock. 

There  are  three  Silk  Factories  now  in 
regular  operation  at  Northampton,  and  one 
at  Dedham,  Mass.  Something  is  also  done 
in  this  way  at  Woburn,  Hingham,  and  Fox- 
borough. 

The  Northampton  Association  have  lately 
made  an  important  improvement  in  reeling, 
BO  that  they  can  now  pay  $4  50  to  $5  per 
bu.«hf,'  for  cocoons,  cask,  and  are  ready  to  do 
it  for  any  quantity  —  they  want  this  year 
2000  bushels. 

In  Mansfield,  Conn.,  there  are  five  or  six 


establishments  of  the  kind,  though  we  could 
not  visit  all  of  them.  In  Manchester,  Conn., 
the  Messrs.  Cheneys  have,  within  a  fev 
months,  revived  their  establishment,  and  are 
now  making  200  pounds  of  sewings  weekly. 
There  is  also  a  factory  at  Windsor,  and  an- 
other at  Pognonock,  near  Hartford,  Conn. 

All  these  establishments  are  going  regu- 
larly forward,  finding  a  ready  and  profitable 
sale  for  their  goods. 

Messrs.  Murray  &  Ryle,  Paterson,  N.  J., 
whose  goods  attracted  so  much  attention  at 
the  Fair,  we  were  sorry  not  to  be  able  to 
visit,  but  heard  that  they  were  still  going  on 
prosperously. 

We  spent  an  hour  or  two  with  Mrs.  Mc- 
Lanahan,  Philadelphia,  whose  interesting 
letter  is  imbodied  in  this  Report.  You  will 
be  happy  to  know  that  she  is  about  resuming 
her  patriotic  labors. 

West  of  the  mountains,  the  business  is 
carried  on  very  differently  from  what  it  is  in 
New  England.  No  foreign  raw  silk  is  used 
in  any  establishment.  No  sewing-silk  or 
twist  of  any  consequence  is  made.  The  en- 
tire attention  of  manufacturers  in  that  quar- 
ter is  turned  to  plain  and  figured  dress  goods, 
serges,  satins,  velvets,  ribbons,  &c.,  &c.  1 
brought  home  with  me  some  70  different 
samples  of  such  goods,  from  the  richest 
figured  velvet,  down  to  the  plain  and  simple 
pongee  —  samples  that  will  well  bear  com- 
parison with  the  same  kinds  of  goods  made 
in  England  or  France.  The  two  leading 
establishments  are  Mr.  Rapp's,  at  Economy, 
Pa.,  and  Mr.  Gill's,  Mount  Pleasant,  Jeffer- 
son County,  Ohio,  both  of  which  were  got 
up  under  the  superintendence  of  John  Fox, 
senior,  and  Sons,  practical  manufacturers 
from  England,  and  have  gone  steadily  for- 
ward, enlarging  their  operations  from  time  to 
time,  and  finding  a  profitable  and  ready  sale 
for  their  goods  as  fast  as  made.  We  found 
Mr.  Gill  building  a  new  factory,  50  by  20 
feet,  3  stories  high,  to  be  filled  with  power- 
looms  for  weaving  plain  pongees  for  print- 
ing. We  could  hear  of  no  establishment  at 
the  West  that  had  failed,  or  had  been  sus- 
pended, though  many  of  them  had  suffered 
much  from  the  want  of  more  capital.  We 
learned  from  Mr.  Fox,  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
that  his  sons,  at  Richmond,  Indiana,  were 
going  on  prosperously.  We  had  similar  in- 
telligence from  Nashville,  Tenn. 


APPENDIX. 


75 


In  regard  to  the  production  of  raw  silk, 
the  West,  especially  the  valley  of  the  Ohio 
River  and  its  tributaries,  has  gone  ahead 
of  New  England.  Much  evidence  on  this 
point  is  given  in  our  Report.  Mr.  Gill  there 
gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  crop  of 
tiie  past  season  in  that  valley  is  sufficient  to 
keep  200  reels  in  operation  through  the  year. 
This  opinion  he  repeated  to  rne  in  conver- 
sation. The  very  rapid  increase  in  that 
region,  and  its  relative  gain  upon  the  East, 
is  to  be  accounted  for  as  follows  :  — 

The  mulberry  speculation  did  not  prevail 
at  the  West  as  in  the  Atlantic  States,  and  of 
course  about  all  the  disastrous  consequences 
growing  out  of  that  matter  fell  upon  the  At- 
lantic States,  where  they  belonged.  West- 
ern lands  are  all  rich,  and  mulberry-trees, 
when  put  out,  push  forward  at  once,  making 
a  rapid  growth  of  three  to  six  feet  by  mid- 
summer. On  the  other  hand,  our  Eastern 
lands  are  exhausted,  and  our  trees  will  do 
nothing  without  manure,  any  more  than  our 
corn,  and  other  crops.  On  this  point  many 
silk-growers  at  the  East  have  made  a  sad 
mistake,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  their  own 
disappointment,  and  the  discouragement  of 
themselves  and  others.  In  this  matter,  the 
West  have  precisely  the  same  advantages 
over  the  East  in  the  silk  business,  as  in  other 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  no  more.  West- 
ern farmers  do  every  thing  on  a  larger  scale 
than  we  do  in  the  East,  and  they  are  carry- 
ing this  characteristic  spirit  into  the  silk  cul- 
ture. Their  summers,  also,  are  some  two  or 
three  weeks  longer  than  ours,  though  no 
better  in  any  other  respects. 

I  think,  therefore,  that  the  West  and  South- 
west will  take  the  lead  in  the  growth  of  silk, 
just  as  they  now  do  in  corn,  and  most  other 
agricultural  products,  and  for  the  same  gen- 
eral reasons. 

I  am  not  a  prophet,  nor  the  son  of  a  prophet. 
But  I  venture  the  prediction,  that  in  thirty 
to  fifty  years,  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
will  control  the  silk  markets  of  the  country, 
and  of  the  world.  What  our  country  has 
done  in  the  cotton  culture,  gives  us  a  pledge 
to  this  effect.  Yet  there  is  this  difference  in 
the  two  eases  :  Silk  maybe  successfully  cul- 
tivated in  every  state  and  territory  in  the 
Union.  Cotton,  on  the  other  hand,  is  con- 
fined within  certain  parallels  of  latitude. 

I  have  said,  that  the  West  and  South-west 
will  take  the  lead  of  the  Atlantic  States  in 
the  silk  culture .  Shall  eastern  farmers,  then, 
abandon  the  business  ?  By  no  means.  We 
know  that  corn  is  one  of  our  best  and  most 
profitable  crops,  in  all  the  Eastern  States, 
from  Maine  to  the  capes  of  Florida,  and  yet 
we  all  admit  that  the  West  can  and  does  lead 
us  in  the  production  of  this  article.  I  reason 
about  silk  in  the  same  way.  Here  we  are, 
fixed  upon  our  hills  and  plains,  exhausted 
though  they  may  be.  Some  of  us  would  not 
abandon  them  for  the  fertile  West,  if  we 
could.  Some  of  us  could  not,  if  we  would. 
Here  we  are,  and  here  we  must  be,  and  we 
must  do  something.  We  are  on  a  tread-mill, 
and  it  is  work  or  die ;  and  the  only  question  is, 


what  articles  of  production  are  most  worthy 
of  our  cultivation  ?  Sooner  or  later  my  read- 
ers will  decide  in  favor  of  silk  as  one  of  the 
class. 

1  found  at  the  West  several  large  estab- 
lishments for  feeding  going  into  operation. 
Mr.  J.  O'Hara,  near  Pittsburg,  who  has 
been  experimenting  in  the  business  for  two 
years,  is  preparing  to  stock  20  acres,  in  the 
spring,  with  trees.  Mr.  George  Sanders, 
near  Wheeling,  Va.,  has  already  8  or  9  acres, 
and  will  put  out  50  acres  more  in  the  spring. 
This  gentleman,  with  whom  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  spending  an  evening  on  my  way  home, 
is  personally  acquainted  with  the  business, 
as  carried  on  in  France  and  Italy,  and  has 
recently  arrived  in  this  country,  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  1  found  him.  He 
is  preparing  to  carry  out,  in  this  country,  the 
most  approved  methods  of  feeding  in  France 
and  Italy.  For  this  purpose  he  is  building 
a  cocoonery,  132  by  35  teet,  one  story,  with 
abundant  windows,  doors,  ventilators,  and 
scuttles  in  the  roof.  In  addition,  he  is  putting 
up  12  stacks  of  chimneys,  the  chief  design  ot 
which  is,  to  change  the  air  in  the  room,  in  hot, 
sultry,  confined  weather,  by  the  aid  of  flash 
fires,  made  of  brush,  straw,  leaves,  or  any 
light  material.  In  this  way,  he  informs  me, 
that  he  can  at  any  time,  and  in  a  very  few 
minutes,  change  the  air  in  the  room  entirely. 
Who  can  doubt  it  ?  The  plan  is  perfectly 
philosophical.  In  the  great  fire  in  New  York, 
the  heat  was  so  intense,  as  stated  in  the 
papers  at  the  time,  as  to  cause  the  winds  to 
come  blowing  in  upon  the  fire  from  all  points 
of  the  compass,  at  the  same  time. 

Every  silk-grower  in  the  land  now  knows, 
that  we  have  much  more  to  fear  from  heat 
than  from  cold,  —  especially  hoi,  sultry,  con- 
fined weather, — more  especially,  hot,  and 
icct.  And  yet,  none  of  our  enclosed  co- 
cooneries are  constructed  in  special  refer- 
ence to  this  danger.  They  were  all  built 
under  the  mistaken  idea,  that  cold,  is  the 
main  thing  to  guard  against.  They  are, 
therefore,  generally  provided  with  means  for 
warming  them,  when  necessary.  But,  I 
know  of  no  one  built  on  the  principles  of 
Mr.  Sanders's  cocoonery,  or  provided  with 
artificial  fans,  or  in  any  other  way  so  con- 
structed, that  the  air  can  be  at  any  time, 
and  at  all  times,  effectually,  and  thoroughly 
changed.  Hence,  the  result,  in  large  feed- 
ing establishments,  in  many,  perhaps  most, 
cases,  has  been  unfavorable.  Disease  breaks 
out  among  the  worms  in  the  last  ages,  and 
sweeps  them  off*.  They  generally  do  well 
until  two-thirds  grown.  By  this  time,  their 
excrements  become  large,  and  their  insen- 
sible perspiration  becomes  large,  and  the 
quantity  of  pure  air  required  for  them  to 
breathe,  is  large.  Hence,'  the  air  in  the 
room  must  be  constantly  changed.  If  you 
have  brisk  winds,  day  and  night,  this  change 
is  secured  through  your  doors,  and  windows, 
and  ventilators.  Otherwise,  it  must  be  done 
by  artificial  means;  and  we  trust  that  our 
intelligent  friend,  at  Wheeling,  will  show  to 
the  whole  nation  that  worms  can  be  sue- 


APPENDIX. 


cessfully  fed,  in  large  establishments,  on  the 
artificial  system  of  Europe,  in  a  way  to 
make  it  an  exclusive  business,  as  he  designs 
his  to  be. 

In  the  meantime,  we  have  triumphantly 
demonstrated  that  they  can  be  fed,  with 
entire  safety,  (except  in  very  early  or  very 
late  feeding,)  in  sheds,  tents,  or  any  open 
building,  that  will  give  them  ample  shade, 
and  heaven's  pure  air  essentially  unobstruct- 
ed, so  that  if  the  business  cannot  go  forward 
on  the  artificial  system,  it  can  go  upon  the 
natural  system.  I  fully  believe  it  can  go 
upon  both  systems. 

At  Economy,  Pa.,  where  the  silk  culture 
has  been  carried  on  for  ten  to  twelve  years, 
I  find  that  they  feed  in  enclosed  buildings 
entirely,  no  better  ventilated  than  our  co- 
cooneries generally.  And  they  are  uniform- 
ly successful.  They  feed  successive  crops, 
this  year  amounting  to  22  or  23,  and  made 
between  500  and  600  pounds  of  reeled  silk, 
of  the  very  best  quality.  The  only  way 
that  1  can  account  for  this,  their  invariable 
success,  is  upon  the  care  they  bestow  upon 
every  step  in  the  business,  from  first  to  last. 
1  will  mention  one  thing.  They  clean  their 
worms  every  day,  except  when  moulting. 

They  commenced  manufacturing  silk  at 
this  place,  four  or  five  years  ago,  and  are 
making  goods  of  the  best  quality.  Some 
of  the  richest  samples  in  my  book  that  I 
showed  you,  I  obtained  at  this  establish- 
ment. At  this  place,  also,  I  found  two  pow- 
er looms  in  operation,  as  an  experiment.  1 
brought  with  me  a  sample  of  the  goods 
woven,  a  plain  satin,  of  first-rate  quality. 
At  the  same  establishment,  I  also  found 
machinery  in  operation  working  up  floss, 
silk-waste,  damaged  and  perforated  cocoons, 
and  brought  with  me  samples  of  the  yarn 
spun.  It  makes  a  beautiful  and  valuable 
article  for  hosiery,  under  dresses,  and  other 
goods.  We  have  in  New  England  no  ma- 
chinery of  this  kind,  and  of  course  have, 
suffered  a  great  loss  in  these  articles.  I 
would  suggest  to  all  silk-growers,  that  they 
hereafter  preserve  these  articles  with  care, 
believing,  that  a  home  market  for  them  will 
soon  be  created.  If  the  damaged  and  per- 
forated cocoons  are  boiled  out  in  soap  and 
dried,  they  may  be  safely  kept  any  length 
of  time.  In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  call  the 
attention  of  our  business  men,  in  the  East, 
to  the  manufacture  of  silk.  We  now  want 
establishments  for  weaving.  Under  our  pres- 
ent tariff  such  establishments,  rightly  con 
ducted,  promise  all  reasonable  profits.  As 
to  the  .raw  material,  it  can  be  obtained  in 
any  quantity  from  abroad,  until  a  sufficient 
supply  is  furnished  from  our  own  fields.  It 
was  in  reference  to  this  temporary  foreign 
supply,  that  the  duty  is  fixed  at  only  fifty 
cents  a  pound.  In  regard  to  skilful  opera- 
tives and  able  superintendents,  there  are 
some  already  in  the  country  from  England 
and  France,  and  many  others  ready  to  come. 
For  some  months,  I  have  been  in  corre- 
spondence with  a  gentleman  in  Lyons,  on 
this  subject.  He  was  here  -last  season,  and 


eft  us,  strong  in  the  belief,  that  we  are  to 
>e  a  great  silk-growing  and  silk-manufactur- 
ng people.  He  is  fully  recommended  by 
gentlemen  in  New  York,  well  acquainted 
with  him,  as  a  man  of  high  character,  and 
one  that  thoroughly  understands  his  busi- 
ness. By  a  letter  just  received,  I  learn  that 
ie  is  now  ready  to  come  to  this  country, 
and  take  charge  of  an  establishment  for 
manufacturing  the  best  varieties  of  French 
goods,  and  in  the  best  style,  if  a  capital  of 
$  60,000  can  be  secured  for  the  purpose, 
and  he  will  himself  furnish  one  fifth  of  that 
capital,  that  is,  $12,000.  His  plan  would 
be,  to  commence  the  business  at  that  point 
of  perfection  to  which  French  skill  and  ex- 
perience has  already  brought  it.  For  this 
purpose,  he  would  have  the  latest  improved 
French  machinery,  made  here  or  there,  as 
may  be  found  best,  and  bring  with  him  a 
sufficient  number  of  operatives  to  carry  the 
business,  in  all  its  parts,  directly  forward.  He 
is  himself  fully  confident  of  results  altogeth- 
er satisfactory.  I  mention  the  case  in  this 
manner,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that 
the  necessary  practical  skill  in  this  business 
can  now  be  easily  secured,  and  also  to  invite 
a  correspondence  with  any  gentlemen  dis- 
posed to  embark  in  such  an  enterprize. 
Names  and  references,  together  with  full 
details  of  the  plan,  will  be  given  to  any  one 
wishing  for  the  same,  in  view  of  such  a 
measure.  Yours  truly, 

1.  R.  BARBOUR. 


DEDHAM,  Mass  ,  March  29,  1844. 

Dear  Sir :  —  You  and  the  American  Insti- 
tute have  been  of  great  service  to  the  silk 
cause,  by  your  collection  of  letters  from  so 
many  persons  in  various  parts  of  our  country, 
detailing  their  experiments. 

The  result  of  the  whole  goes  to  show,  that, 
throughout  the  vast  extent  of  our  country, 
the  mulberry  and  the  silk-worm  will  flourish, 
and  that  the  silk  products  are  steadily  on  the 
increase,  notwithstanding  the  encounter  of 
many  adverse  circumstances. 

In  answer  to  your  inquiries  about  the 
manufacture  of  silk  here,  I  have  to  reply, 
that  the  New  England  Silk  Company  in  this 
place  use  weekly  about  150  pounds  of  raw 
silk,  which  is  made  into  sewings.  This  is 
mostly  supplied,  at  present,  from  the  foreign 
markets,  Smyrna,  Calcutta,  and  Canton.  Our 
American  silk-growers  are  not  able  to  supply 
us  with  raw  materials  that  can  be  depended 
upon,  to  keep  our  wheels  in  motion.  Some 
very  favorable  lots  have  been  received,  how- 
ever, lately,  and  manufactured  to  advantage. 
What  seems  most  to  be  desired,  in  the  Amer- 
ican raw  silk,  is  uniformity  in  the  filature. 

If  Mr.  Duponceau's  plan  of  having  a  Nor- 
man school,  to  teach  reeling  silk  from  the 
cocoons,  could  be  adopted,  or  any  system  of 
uniformity  established  throughout  the  United 
States,  in  the  mode  of  reeling,  it  would  be  a 
great  point  gained. 

I  think  our  silk-growers  cannot  do  better, 
at  present,  than  to  reel  their  own  cocoons,  in 


APPENDIX. 


77 


imitation  of  the  Piedmontese,  and  to  put  up 
their  silk  in  packages  of  10  or  100  pounds, 
for  market.  The  manufacturer  would  then 
be  able  to  manage  it  better,  and  pay  more 
for  it  than  he  would  if  he  received  it  of  differ- 
ent lengths  and  from  various  kinds  of  reels, 
as  at  present. 

I  perceive,  by  the  experiments,  that  many 
have  failed  of  success  in  raising  silk-worms, 
for  want  of  ventilation  in  their  cocooneries.  1 
know  of  no  surer  mode  of  ventilation  than 
that  established  by  the  cotton  manufacturers 
at  Manchester,  England,  by  an  artificial  fan. 
Their  plan  of  expelling  the  foul  air  from 
their  apartments  is  by  fans,  made  to  revolve 
with  the  rapidity  of  nearly  100  feet  per  sec- 
ond, and  thereby  to  insure  a  constant  re- 
newal of  the  atmosphere  in  any  range  of 
apartments,  however  large  or  closely  pent 
they  may  be. 

One  of  these  fans  might  easily  be  con- 
structed for  a  cocoonery,  which  should  re- 
volve with  less  rapidity  and  still  be  effective 
in  removing  the  foul  air. 

There  is  a  drawing  of  one  of  these  fans,  or 
ventilators,  on  page  382  of  "  The  Philoso- 
phy of  Manufactures,"  by  Dr.  Andrew  Ure. 
The  instrument  is  ingenious  and  effective. 
When  such  a  fan  was  placed  in  the  window 
at  one  end  of  an  apartment,  200  feet  long,  in 
full  action,  it  threw  the  air  so  powerfully  out 
of  it  as  to  create  a  draft  at  the  other  end  of 
the  apartment,  capable  of  keeping  a  weighted 
door  six  inches  ajar.  It  is  easy  to  see,  that 
a  contrivance  of  this  kind  would  be  more 
economical  than  to  do  it  by  flash  fires,  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Sanders  s  plan,  and  more^ure 
than  any  of  the  common  modes  of  ventilat- 
ing now  in  use. 

By  persevering  in  your  efforts  to  collect 
and  diffuse  information  relative  to  the  silk 
business,  you  will  merit  the  thanks  of  the 
community,  as  well  as  of  your  humble  friend 
and  servant, 

JONATHAN  H.  COBS, 

Superintendent. 

Rev.  I.  R.  Barbour. 

P.  S.  As  the  Dedham  mill  was  the  first 
mill  of  any  considerable  size  which  was  set 
up  in  the  United  States,  it  may  be  well  to 
give  some  description  of  it. 

The  building  is  made  of  three  stories  above 
the  basement,  which  is  of  stone,  one  hundred 
feet  by  forty.  It  is  situated  in  the  outskirts 
of  the  village,  convenient  to  the  help,  which 
chiefly  consists  of  young  girls  whose  parents 
reside  in  the  village.  It  is  near  to  the  Ded- 
ham Branch  Rail-road,  being  about  ten  rods 
south  of  the  depot.  There  is  a  never-failing- 
stream  of  pure  water  running  the  whole 
length  of  the  building  on  the  easterly  side. 

The  basement  story  contains  the  engine, 
which  is  of  seven-horse  power,  requiring  an 
expenditure  of  about  three  dollars  per  day 
for  coal  to  keep  it  in  operation.  Here  also 
is  the  dyeing  and  reeling  establishment,  the 
repairing  shop,  and  press-room. 

In  the  second  story  is  the   spinning-room, 


one  hundred  spindles  each,  the  counting- 
room,  and  room  for  putting  up  silk. 

In  the  third  story  is  the  winding-room, 
containing  eighteen  winding-frames,  and  al- 
so, a  room  for  drying  and  skeining  silk  ;  in 
the  third  story  are  the  doubling-frames,  and 
pressing-machines,  hand-looms,  &c. 

In  this  establishment  is  manufactured 
about  $50,000  in  value  per  annum  of  sewing- 
silk,  and  also  a  considerable  quantity  of  nar- 
row goods :  but,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
the  raw  material,  and  other  causes,  the  whole 
establishment  is  not  in  full  operation. 

We  wish  to  purchase  well-reeled  raw  silk. 
C.  COLT,  Agent  of  the  Company. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  REPORT  ON 
SILK,  PRESENTED  BY  MR.  BLISS 
TO  THE  OHIO  LEGISLATURE. 

For  the  last  five  years,  we  have  imported , 
on  an  average,  $18,000,000  worth  of  silk 
goods  annually.  This,  in  addition  to  what  is 
raised  here,  is  consumed  among  us.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  buMhe  market  will  be  good 
until  we  can  manufWture  an  amount  equal 
to  that  which  we  import  for  consumption. 
Our  imports  will,  in  fact,  always  be  just  the 
amount  that  the  consumption  of  the  country 
exceeds  its  production. 

The  consumption  of  the  article  will  in- 
crease in  proportion  as  its  product  in- 
creases among  us.  Silk  enters  already  very 
largely  into  the  clothing  of  the  people.  It 
is  used  more  or  less  in  every  family  ;  and 
while  it  can  be  had  it  will  not  be  dispensed 
with.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  as  the 
article  of  silk,  for  which  we  now  send  our 
gold  and  silver  to  Europe,  becomes  more  and 
more  the  ordinary  product  of  our  labor,  that 
a  much  larger  proportion  will  be  used  for 
clothing  than  is  now  used.  Thus,  when  we 
are  able  to  produce  an  amount  equal  to  our 
present  imports  and  our  present  consumption, 
the  increase  in  our  consumption  will  furnish 
a  market  for  an  amount  equal  to  the  present 
imports,  and  an  addition  to  it  to  an  amount 
equal  to  the  increase  in  our  consumption. 

But  when  we  are  able  to  supply  the  de- 
mand for  home  consumption,  we  need  not 
stop  at  that  limit  for  the  want  of  a  market. 
The  heaviest  of  our  imports  are  from  Great 
Britain,  and  will  continue  to  be  so.  For  all 
that  we  purchase  of  her,  we  must  pay  in 
some  way.  If  we  have  nothing  else  that 
she  will  receive,  our  gold  must  go  for  the  pur- 
pose. England  manufactures  $75,000,000 
worth  of  silk  goods  annually.  She  makes 
them,  of  course,  to  sell ;  but  in  the  first  place, 
she  has  to  buy  every  pound  of  the  raw  ma- 
terial, as  she  cannot  raise  it.  She  can  make 
a  profit  on  the  manufacture,  and  as  long  as 
she  can  do  this,  she  ivill  have  the  raw  ma 
terial,  if  it  is  to  be  had.  If  she  can  get  it  in 
no  other  way,  she  will  pay  the  money  for  it. 
But  she  will  get  it  where  she  can  do  it  at 
the  best  advantage  ;  where,  instead  of  paying 


containing   sixteen  throwing  machines,   of  I  the  money,  she  can  exchange  her  own  prod' 


78 


APPENDIX. 


vets  for  it.  Are  not  the  commercial  rela 
tions  between  that  country  and  ours  such 
that  she  will  be  likely  to  buy  of  us  if  we  car 
furnish  her?  She  purchases  the  value  of 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  millions  annually,  of 
raw  silk.  She  will  buy  it  of  us  if  she  can 
pay  us  as  easily  as  she  can  pay  others  for  it 
Here,  then,  will  be  a  new  market  opened 
The  same  may  be  said  of  France,  as  she 
purchases  the  raw  material  to  the  value  of 
several  millions  annually. 

But  there  can  be  no  doubt  on  this  point 
We  cannot  produce  enough  to  supply  the 
markets  that  will  be  opened  to  us,  and  not 
enough  to  affect  materially  the  price  of  it 
The  demand  will  keep  ahead  of  the  supply. 
If,  then,  we  can  cultivate  the  growth  of  silk, 
and  do  it  successfully  and  profitably,  and  can 
find  a  market  for  all  that  we  can  produce,  it 
may  be  very  proper  to  inquire  into 

THE  GENERAL  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  CUL- 
TURE. 

On  this  point  of  the  subject,  a  boundless 
field  of  inquiry  is  opened.  Your  Committee 
being,  none  of  them,  personally  engaged  in 
the  silk  business,  and  not  having  given  the 
subject  much  attentionJfean  only  suggest 
such  considerations  as  are  the  result  of  lim- 
ited reading  and  reflection  on  the  subject. 
But  they  beg  leave  to  suggest  a  few  con- 
siderations why,  in  their  opinion,  it  is  ex- 
ceedingly important  to  the  interests  of  the 
country  that  it  should  become  a  leading 
branch  of  national  industry. 

The  wealth  of  a  country  is  the  product  of 
the  labor  of  that  country.  Individuals  may 
become  wealthy  by  speculation,  and  by  va- 
rious means  other  than  by  labor;  but  all 
that  is  obtained  in  this  way  by  one.  is  taken 
from  the  pockets  of  others,  and  there  is  no 
increase  in  the  aggregate.  But  the  labor  of 
a  community  will  produce  something  valuable 
as  its  necessary  result :  that  is,  of  course, 
when  the  labor  performed  has  that  for  its 
object.  The  wealth  of  a  country  w  ill  increase 
in  proportion  as  the  products  of  its  labor  in- 
crease. Every  man  can,  by  his  labor,  pro- 
duce something ;  and  every  additional  amount 
of  labor,  when  rightly  directed,  will  give  an 
additional  product.  To  this  product  will  be 
attached  a  certain  value;  and  it  follows  that 
every  product  obtained  from  the  additional 
LABOR  of  the  country,  must  add  something 
to  the  aggregate  wealth  of  the  country. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  but  a  large  amount 
of  the  raw  material  of  silk  may  be  produced 
in  this  country  by  labor  that  in  any  other 
business  would  be  unproductive.  Most  of 
the  labor  can  be  performed  by  aged  persons, 
children  and  females,  who,  without  this  em- 
ployment, would  produce  little  or  nothing. 
In  fact,  the  aged  and  the  children  would  be 
a  tax  upon  community  to  the  amount  of  the 
cost  of  their  support.  There  are,  in  the 
State  of  Ohio,  1,500,000  inhabitants.  Sup- 
posing that,  on  an  average,  each  family  con- 
sists of  Jive  members  there  are  300,000  fam- 
ilies in  the  State.  Reducing  this  again  to 
one  fifth,  would  leave  60,000.  Does  any 
person  doubt  but  there  are  60,000  families  in 


the  State  of  Ohio  that  can  produce,  each, 
ten  pounds  of  raw  silk  every  year,  without 
the  cost  of  any  additional  labor?  It  can  be 
produced  mostly  by  labor  that  would  other- 
wise be  unproductive.  On  this  supposition, 
the  product  of  the  60,000  families  would  be 
600,000  pounds  of  raw  silk.  This,  at  $5  a 
pound,  would  be  a  product  of  $3,000,000  to 
the  people  of  the  State.  But,  while  there 
are  60,000  that  can  produce  ten  pounds  each, 
there  are  one  half  that  number  that  can  pro- 
duce twice  that  amount.  This  would  give 
an  additional  amount  of  300,000  p<  uTids, 
worth  $1,500,000;  in  all,  a  product  worth 
$4,500,000  to  the  public.  This  could  be 
done,  and  the  products  of  the  State  in  every 
other  particular,  be  as  large  as  they  now  are. 
This  would  as  really  be  an  addition  to  the 
wealth  of  the  State  as  though  the  amount 
were  coined  expressly  for  her  benefit.  It  is 
the  product  of  labor  otherwise  unproductive, 
and  so  much  clear  benefit  to  the  people. 

But  look  at  the  same  calculation  for  the 
whole  Union.  We  have  1;~>,000,000  of  peo- 
ple. One  fifth  of  that  number  is  3,000,000, 
and  one  fifth  of  that  number  is  600,000.  A 
product  of  ten  pounds,  each,  would  be  6,- 
)00,000  pounds ;  at  $5  per  pound,  it  would 
be  $30,000,000.  This  is  the  raw  material ; 
and  this  is  made  without  any  reference  to 
the  vast  numbers  who  will  make  the  siik 
culture  their  business,  and  who  will  conse- 
quently produce  a  much  larger  amount. 

But  further  :  —  as  soon  as  the  raw  material 

produced,  manufactories  will  be  established 
throughout  the  country.  The  only  reason 
hat  they  have  not  hitherto  increased,  is  the 
"act  that  the  raw  material  could  not  be  pro- 
cured to  work  up.  Manufacturers  are  only 
waiting  for  this.  When  we  can  manufacture 
ur  own  product  of  the  raw  material,  we 
shall  of  course  save  to  the  country  the  profit 
irising  from  the  manufacture. 

The    above    calculations  may   appear  ex- 
ravagant   and    visionary.     But,    from  what 
ittle  examination  we  have  been  able  to  give 
he  subject,  we  are  persuaded  that  the  esti- 
nates  are  too   moderate,   rather   than  other- 
vise.     Mr.    G.   B.    Smith,    of  Baltimore,   a 
gentleman   in  whose    opinions  all    who    are 
nterested  in  the  culture  will  have  great  con- 
fidence,   in   a  number  of  the  Silk  Journal, 
says  :  "  But  let  us  make    a  calculation,  for 
lie  formers'  domestic  use,  for  the  production 
if  silk  as  a  domestic  article  in  all  our  farm- 
ers' families,  whence  the  invention  of  ma- 
hinery  has  expelled  the  spinning-wheel,  and 
where  very  little  profitable  employment  has 
leen  left  to  the  females  and  junior  and  senior 
members.     Suppose  the  farmer  has  an  acre 
f  ground    planted    with    5000    trees  ;    his 
hildren  gather  the  leaves,  and  his  daughters 
eed  and  attend  to  80,000  worms.     This  they 
an   do  without  materially  interfering  with 
any  other  arrangement  of  business  or  pleas- 
ure.    They   then   reel   the   cocoons   during 
heir   hours   of   leisure,    and   the   result  is 
wenty-four  pounds  of  reeled  silk  the  first 
rear  the  trees  were  planted,  worth  to  them 
j>144,  without  a  cent  of  cost,  or  the  addition 


APPENDIX. 


79 


of  a  cent  to  the  expenses  of  the  farm."  If 
this  calculation  is  a  reasonable  one,  ours  is 
certainly  not  extravagant.  Much  might  be 
added  to  it,  and  then  fall  far  below  the  point 
beyond  which  we  shall  not  probably  go. 

But  further  :  —  the  following  is  a  statement 
of  our  exports  and  imports,  from  1833  to 
1841,  inclusive. 
Ye;irs.  Exports.  Imports. 

1833 $90,140,433 $108,118,311 

1834 .104,336>33 126,521,332 

1835 121  793  577 149,893,742 

1836 128,773,040 189,980,035 

1837 118,419,376 110,980,177 

1838 108,486,616 113,717,404 

1839 121,028,416 162,092,132 

1840 131,581,950 104,804,861 


Total . .  .$923,340,381  $1 ,096, 1 1 1 ,024 

It  will  be  seen,  that  the  balance  against  us, 
in  the  eight  years,  is  one  hundred  and  seventij- 
twu  iniUiuns  seven  hundred  and  seventy  thou- 
sand dollars.  To  this  enormous  extent,  there 
was  a  debt  created  against  us.  We  bought 
more  than  we  sold.  And  to  pay  this  debt, 
the  precious  metals  were  taken  out  of  the 
country,  and  the  necessary  result  was  pe- 
cuniary embarrassment.  This  will  always, 
necessarily,  be  the  case,  when  we  send  our 
money  out  of  the  country,  whether  for  the 
purchase  of  goods,  or  for  any  other  purpose ; 
as  long  as  we  can  pay  for  what  we  buy  with 
our  own  products,  our  money  remains  with 
us,  and  is  used  as  a  circulating  medium. 
The  only  remedy  for  the  evil  is,  either  to 
buy  less  or  to  sell  more,  or  perhaps  both. 
The  excess  against  us,  caused  by  the  excess 
of  our  imports  over  our  exports,  for  eight 
years,  is  as  is  above  stated.  From  1835  to 
1840,  inclusive,  the  balance  against  us,  was 
$132,607,723;  and,  during  the  same  period, 
we  imported  silk  to  the  amount  of  $105,- 
992,190,  or  nearly  $18,000,000,  per  annum. 
We  have  paid  so  much  for  silks  which  we 
might  as  well  have  produced  ourselves.  The 
money  so  paid  is  a  loss  to  the  country.  In 
1839,  we  purchased  of  other  countries,  silk 
to  the  amount  of  nearly  $23,000,000,  as 
follows  : 
Silks  from  India  and  China,  piece 

goods $1,738,509 

"     from  India  &  China,  sewings.       50,650 
"     sewings  from  other  places...        78,884 

«     raw  silk 39,258 

"     from  other  places  than  India, 

veils,  shawls,  &c.,  &c . . . .     345,490 
"     other    manufactures     from 

other  places  than  India,.  .18,685,295 

Manufactures  of  silk  and  worsted 

$2.319,884,  (allowing   one   half 

the  value  to  be  silk,) 1,159,942 

Total $22,838,028 

The  importations   of  silk  are   one  fourth 

more  than  of  any  other  article. 

The  amount  of  cotton  manufac- 
tures imported  was $14,692,397 


Of  iron 

Of  cloths  and  cassimeres 

Other  woollen  manufactures ....  3,507,161 

One  half  the  value  of  silks  and 

worsteds 1,159,942 

Total  woollen  goods 18,831, J07 

The  amount  of  silk  nearly  equals  that  of 
woollen  and  linen  together,  and  is  equal  to 
one  half  of  all  other  fabrics  combined.  Is 
_t  not  then  an  important  consideration,  that 
this  expenditure  be  saved  to  the  nation? 
Abs.tract  the  article  of  silk  from  the  cata- 
logue of  imports,  and  '  our  indebtedness 
would  be  trifling.  But,  in  addition  to  the 
debt  incurred  by  our  annual  purchase,  there 
is  the  interest  on  the  loans  made  by  the 
States,  of  $12,000,000  a  year  to  be  met,  and 
an  enormous  debt  of  $2()i  1,000,000,  being  the 
loans  themselves,  that  must  be  paid  some 
how  or  other.  How  can  it  be  done  ?  It  can, 
every  cent  of  it,  be  paid  by  our  exports  of  silk. 
After  raising  enough  for  home  consumption, 
the  world  is  then  open  to  receive  all  that  we 
can  produce. 

In  the  Burlington,  N.  J.,  Silk  Record,  for 
Jan.  1842,  it  is  stated,  that' 

"  In  England,  the  importation  of  raw  silk, 
from  the  year  1821  to  1.828,  was  24,157,568 
Ibs. ;  which,  when  manufactured,  was  worth 
£120,770,580  sterling;  and  the  hands  re- 
quired for  its  manufacture  were  more  than 
400,000.  This  sum  is  equal  to  $5:36,222,237 ! 
or  $70,190,462  each  year.  Of  this  amount, 
Italy  alone  furnished  $59,881,233.  In  1835, 
Great  Britain  consumed,  at  wholesale  prices, 
to  the  value  of  $28,2o2,582  of  manufactured 
silks.  The  sum  paid  to  weavers  alone,  not 
taking  into  the  account  what  was  paid  for 
throwsting,  winders,  doublets,  drawers,  warp- 
ers, the  soap,  the  dye-stuffs,  and  to  various 
mechanics,  was  little  short  of  $14,000,000  ; 
the  amount  of  silk  goods,  now  produced  in 
that  kingdom,  is  stated  to  be  seventy-five 
millions  of  dollars!  But  they  raise  not  a 
pound  of  the  raw  material. 

"  France  manufactures  $28,000,000  of  silk, 
and  imports  of  the  raw  material  from  eight 
to  ten  millions  of  dollars  worth.  She  could 
manufacture  annually  $50,000,000  worth, 
could  she  procure  it.  England  and  France, 
in  common  with  all  civilized  nations,  are 
competitors  for  this  precious  material,  wher- 
ever found ;  but  especially  Germany,  Prus- 
sia, and  Russia,  would  enter  the  field, 
making  annual  demands  upon  us,  could  we 
supply  them,  for  from  50  to  100,000,000 
pounds!" 

We  can  export  nothing  else  that  will  ac- 
complish the  object.  We  can  raise  grain, 
but  where  shall  we  find  a  market  for  it  ? 
The  product  of  our  cotton  fields  already 
equals  the  demand  for  it;  and  in  a  little 
time  longer,  when  its  cultivation  becomes 
more  extensive  in  British  India,  there  will 
not  be  a  market  for  all  that  we  now  pro- 
duce. 


INDEX. 


Page 

Circular  of  the  American  Institute, 3 

Organization  of  the  Convention, 4 

Opening  Address  by  Gen.  Tallmadge, 5 

Communication  from  the   N.   E.    Silk  Convention, 5 

Silk  Culture  in  France, 6 

Address,  in  Niblo's  Saloon,  by  I.  R.  Barbour,..' 7 

Address, 'in  Niblo's  Saloon,  by  G.  B.  Smith, 10 

Resolutions,  as  adopted  by  the  Convention, 14 

Letters  from  the  State  Treasurers, 17 

Editorial  Remarks  on  the  Correspondence  presented, 18 

Results  of  Open  Feeding  in  Maine, 19,  24,  32 

Results  of  Open  Feeding  in  Ohio, 19,  35,  67 

Large  Results  in  Pennsylvania, ] 9,  35 

Good  Results  in  Vermont, 20,21,43,44,49 

Disastrous  Results   in  Auburn,  New  York, .20 

Testimony  from  Michigan, 21 

Open  Feeding  in  New  Hampshire, .22 

Poultry  Houses  dangerous  to  Worms, 22 

Feeding  in  Arkansas, 23 

Sinclair's  Feeding,  Baltimore, 23,  24 

Open  and  Artificial  Feeding  in  Kentucky, 25 

Preserving   Eggs, 26 

Mellen's  Experiments,  Madison,  New  York, 26 

Oregon    Mulberry, 27 

Feeding  in  Madison  Co.,  New  York, 28,  29,  52 

Decided  Results  in  Open  Feeding,  Northampton, .29,  47,  62 

Piedmontese  Reel  (best), .' 32 

Feeding  in    Indiana, * 33 

Open  Feeding  in  Sunderland, 34 

Artificial  Feeding  in  Charlemont,  Mass., 37 

Artificial  Feeding  in  Delaware, 37 

Artificial  Feeding  in  New  Jersey, 40 

Cantelo's   Winding  Rack, 41 

Canton    Mulberry, 39,  47 

Good  beginning  in  Mississippi, 43 

Dix's  Experiments,  Ithaca,  New  York, 45 

Barton's  Experiments,  Gill,   Massachusetts, 45 

Silk  Prospects  in  Georgia, 52 

Disastrous  Results  with  Mulberry-Trees, 55 

Belcher  &/  Son's  Experiments,  Richford,  New  York, 57 

Montague's  Experiments,  Belchertown,  Mass, • 58 

Mrs.  McLanahan's  Experiments,  Philadelphia, 59 

Large  Results  in  Tennessee, 66,  67 

Gill's  Experiments,  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio, ..67 

Premiums  awarded  by  the   Institute, • 69 

Medal   offered  for  Bark  Silk, 70 

Medal  offered  for  Mulberry-Paper, 70 

Notice  of  another  Convention, 70 

Annual  Reports  on  Silk  for  a  Course  of  Years, 71 

Blank  Schedule  for  Silk  Growers, 72 

Blank  Schedule  for  Silk  Manufacturers, , 73 


APPENDIX. 

Page. 

Facts  lately  collected  by  I.  R.  Barbour, 74 

Letter  from  J.  W.  Cobb, 76 

Extracts  from  Report  to  the  Ohio  Legislature, 77 


